Six.

Will you please rise and join me in the Pledge of Allegiance?

I Pledge of Allegiance to the United States of America.

And to the Republic, which is one nation undergoing individual with liberty and justice for all.

All right.

Well, our town clerk, please take roll.

Councilmember Pessimarelli.

Present.

Councilmember Bear.

Present.

Mayor Pro Tem Bell.

Here.

Councilmember Hoback?

Here.

Councilmember O'Connor.

Present.

Councilmember Mortalero.

Here.

And Mayor Moore.

Here.

Mayor you have quorum.

All right.

Sounds good.

I'm going to pull one item off the consent agenda.

That's the 2026 Juneteenth proclamation.

Councilmember Barrell will be reading that tonight.

So I'll see if there's a motion to approve the agenda with that one change.

So move.

Second.

Motion is second.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

All opposed say no.

All right.

Motion carries.

We do have an agenda.

I do want to say that there is an executive session for negotiations for leasing transfer sale of real estate, all of that.

It has got nothing to do with the Draco mineral rights.

This is a different item entirely.

All right.

With that, I will go through the consent agenda items.

The first one is item 2026 371.

Approval of the May 12, 2026 Town Council meeting minutes.

Item 2026 54, a resolution of the town council approving a lease agreement with Co-Create Erie, formally Erie makerspace.

Item 2026 313, a resolution of the town council of the town of Erie approving a purchase agreement with Robert V.

Michael and Christy J.

Michael for the purchase of three Colorado Big Thompson units.

Item 2026 322, a resolution of the town council of the town of Erie approving a grant agreement with the Division of Aeronautics for Erie Municipal Airport pavement maintenance.

Item 2026 2026 326, the resolution of the town council of the town of Erie approving a construction contract with CR contracting for the airport pavement maintenance.

Item 2026 352, a resolution of the town council of the town of Erie approving the construction contract with Colorado Boring Company for the fiber from the water plant to take tank site project.

Item 2026 355, a resolution of the town council of the town of Erie approving an agreement with the traffic signal controls incorporated for the purchase of traffic detection equipment.

And the last item is 2026 356.

A resolution of the town council of the town area approving the first amendment to the construction contract with facilities contracting LLC for the Erie Maintenance Storage Facility Expansion Project PR 2517.

Do we have a motion to approve the consent agenda?

So moved.

Second.

We have a motion and a second.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

All opposed say no.

Motion carries.

All right, we'll move into public comment tonight.

So our town clerk.

Do we have anybody signed up?

We have uh five people signed up.

Okay.

You want to read the comments?

Yes, I will read the script.

Uh please remember the public comment is not an interactive question and answer forum, but rather a time for you to state your comments on a particular item or issue.

Public comment provides the opportunity to discuss items that are not public hearings.

Please sign up using key the kiosk in the library lobby.

If you have a handout, please give it to the town clerk to the left.

They will distribute it to the council, included into the meeting record.

When called upon, please state your full name and location for the record.

Public comment is limited to three minutes per person.

You'll be given a 20-second warning when your three minute minutes are almost up.

At the three-minute mark, you'll be asked to wrap up your final sentence.

All opinions are welcome.

Please be respectful of each speaker to ensure everyone feels welcome to share the comments.

Please refrain from any cheering, clapping, booing, or otherwise disruptive behavior.

First speaker is Stephen Drew.

Hi, this is uh Stephen Drew.

I'm up in Collier's Hill in Erie.

Uh and I love this town.

It's really well done.

So uh thanks for the work that you do.

Uh I think I do have three comments and and they should go relatively quick.

Um I had submitted some information prior to this meeting as well.

Umce again, the information is only through publicly available sources, so it's going to be potentially off a bit because of the amount of information in executive sessions that I'm not privy to, nor are others.

Um for executive session tonight.

Uh, one of the questions or requests I do have if this is related to anything uh related to any of these contracts uh associated with our consultant, RFP processes or the avoidance of RFP processes.

I would request that there's this be brought out in the open in an open session discussion rather than something that goes within a uh an executive session.

Um the rolling executive sessions up to this point have held information that is both typically non-confidential and confidential within that loop of therefore it's confidential.

Just trying to bring it out in the open.

I know that there have been promises made by uh members of this group that we would get things out in the open, and there's no more time.

There's no more uh rolling executive sessions to put things in.

Let's get the information out in the open.

That's a request.

Don't know what the session involves, but let's talk about two other topics real quick.

Just uh for point of order, the item tonight in exec session has nothing to do with Draco in any way, shape, or form.

Or the contracts associated with consultants.

That's fine.

That's fine.

You guys can make that assessment.

I'm assuming you know what you're gonna have is saving.

The second aspect is um, you know, I use the term breach of contract, but it's it's a legal term, and I'm not a lawyer.

Uh but clearly, you know, after June 2nd's meeting, um, it's very clear that Alameda Minerals Partners did not conduct a competitive bid and solicitation process, which is a very material part of this agreement.

Uh irrespective of how that arrived at that moment, uh, the value of a competitive bid and solicitation process.

I've talked about this for months, is that you have comparative bids, whether what you have in hand is worth it.

Uh it's a negotiation tool where you can sit there and go back to partners and parties.

It appears, and for June 2nd, it very much appears.

This was a sole solicitation where Owens did not conduct a bid and solicitation process.

Went ahead and put it in there, looks also for the terms of the agreement.

Any verbal hey, you don't need to do that is not appropriate as well.

That's something that should be addressed by the town council ahead of any vote.

Should be addressed in public as well.

I don't know whether that can be addressed before the 16th, but really that's going to be a material issue and a fiduciary duty issue for each member here to make sure that that compliance is there.

The whole boy do we have a good deal doesn't cut it.

This is a contractual issue.

We can get into the legal aspects if you want to dig in later about what your duties are and what they're not.

But no matter what, he did not complete his contract in a material way.

I do have some things in here, and there's probably a much broader scope as well.

I think the second is on June 2nd.

There was an issue related to whether Owens should have been brought in through an RFP, four and a half million dollar contract, sole solicitation brought in by unknown parties who may or may not be affiliated with the people sitting here.

That is another fiduciary duty issue.

And I know that that was something that was brought up as it looked like it was a town policy violation.

I believe that discussion is something that should be made in public and it should be a discussion.

Uh what are the ramifications?

Well, now we have a sole source RF non-RFP consultant who delivered us a sole source agreement when he was supposed to do a competitive bid and solicitation process.

We talked about this hot mess of a situation back in March.

Here we are, there was plenty of time to fix this before now.

So the point in all this is bring it out in the open ahead of any vote.

Because when you have a sole source bid that is coming up in front of us for a vote that it broke the rules associated with that contract.

Number one, this guy doesn't get paid.

Number two, take a look and get legal guidance on whether you should be voting for such a contract as well.

Not just within the rules of the town, but get some guidance external about the state issues associated with this too.

And the third is your fiduciary responsibility is a very broad topic, but you are leaving a lot of money on the table associated with this deal if you blow past all of these issues.

I think that is pretty much what I was going to cover on this one.

Um you have any questions.

I think you have my notes, but I think that should be under three minutes.

So I appreciate your time.

Just want to make sure we get this out in public.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Steve, can I ask you to do me a favor and that little box?

Can you put it up on the edge?

There you go.

I can see the lights that way.

Cheers.

Thank you.

Our next speaker is Marcy Lorde.

Hi, my name is Marcy Lord.

I live in Erie.

Um I've been up since 4 a.m.

and I didn't prepare any notes, so I don't know how eloquent I'm going to be, but I'm just going to talk.

Uh okay.

So I'm here to speak on the sale of Erie's mineral rights.

I was at the study session last week, and I'm here again today, and I read uh the documents I've been put online, and I couldn't really make sense of anything, but that's it's kind of I I guess it doesn't really even matter if I can make sense of it.

Um I really want to like give my blessing.

I really want to be like cool with this stuff because I just be the path of least resistance, right?

But it's really hard to give my blessing and be happy with the potential sale when there's no environmental studies done yet.

And I understand that if an agreement's going to be made, it's going to be conditional on any kind of environmental impact studies that come along with it.

But what's to say like those could say things are gonna be bad.

And then what happens?

We just move forward anyways, it's up to some people's opinions, whether or not I I can't fully give my blessing and be happy with it and feel comfortable with it until we see environmental impact studies done on the potential sale of anything.

And I guess I'm just very surprised after all the outcry of the rape DracoPad that this is even on the table.

Um when I just think about what kind of justice a rape victim could have.

You don't get much justice if you consent first.

So these are just some things that are popping up in my head, and I don't want to get down a the logical fallacy of the slippery slope where okay, we're people are selling land for data centers and everything, and this is like creating a huge issue for people.

Who wants a data center here?

I'm not saying this is the same thing as a data center, but it feels kind of like selling the heart of what we need really in this community for maybe some money.

I mean, obviously for some money, but money for what?

Do we need money?

Obviously, who doesn't want money?

Do we owe a debt to someone?

That what is this money going to get us other than I don't know, some improvements and some things.

So that is my well, I guess what I'm saying is I implore you guys to really think about what the real true impact of any sale of Erie's mineral rights could be before agreeing to do so.

Thank you.

All right, thank you.

Our next speaker is Jordan S.

Good evening.

My name is Jordan.

I'm a resident of Erie for the last nine years, and I do thank you all.

This is a great community, and we've loved it.

I'm here to speak about the Erie plot pride flag issue.

And I understand the rationale for the city hearing the arguments for flying pride flags as to promote unity and inclusion.

I encourage the council to reject the idea of flying the pride flag on city property for three reasons practical and legal, medical and biological, and moral.

The practical and legal issues are straightforward.

Who gets to decide which flags can fly?

Would a confederate flag or a turning point USA flag be allowed?

Why or why not?

Will the city budget for the legal challenges that will surely come due to viewpoint discrimination?

Concerning the medical and biological issues, I look at one aspect of the pride flag, the T for the trans community.

As a physician and surgeon who participates as a physician for female Olympic athletes, four of whom meddled in the recent winter Olympics.

I have grave concerns about promoting or condoning the trans community as it pertains to involvement in women's sports.

Gender dysphoria is a mental illness.

And the city should not be indirectly giving its blessing to an illness and ignoring biological reality.

Finally, the moral issues to me are the most compelling.

Pride is just is described in the Bible as the original sin.

I do not have personal animus towards those represented under the LGBTQ plus flag.

As we have friends and close extended family members with these identities.

This was a theoretical issue.

For me, until a month ago when an immediate family member began struggling with gender identity, and it has torn our family apart.

This issue is anything but unifying.

As the Erie Council debates on unifying things for our community, focus on what you are already doing.

Community parks and trails, safe streets with excellent police presence, welcoming local shops, unifying community events, and flying the U.S.

and Colorado state flags under which we all identify the pride flag, however, one lands on this issue and votes invites only controversy and division.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Our next speaker is Emily Breck.

My mom's sitting her finding.

Oh, so you're you're Laura Brecht?

Yeah, she's okay.

All right.

Okay.

Not a good public speaker.

It's okay.

Deep breath.

It's okay.

But I have extra time so I can go a little slower than I did previously.

Um my name is Emily Brecht.

I live in Erie.

I'm a resident.

Um technically I live on Canyon Creek in Canyon Creek PD.

After the study session last week, I felt guilty opposing the deal with SM Energy.

I'd finally seen the maps, and the mineral rights in question surround my neighborhood.

However, I was asked, would I still oppose this deal if it was someone else's neighborhood?

And the answer is yes.

No question.

This is not a good deal.

Let me rephrase that.

Sorry.

This is a fantastic deal for SM Energy.

They get free reign over our town, but is it actually a good deal for us?

SM offered us monitoring with no additional power of enforcement.

They offered us land they don't care about, but I think the mayor wants maybe to build a road.

They could cap those wells now, but instead they're smacking us in the face and saying that only with this deal can we stop hitting ourselves.

I will not be on gas lit.

I don't think we should be.

Oh, um, actually, sorry.

I support the pride flag, and I think it brings unity and diversity to our town.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Our next speaker is Brianna Brown.

Hi, Council.

Welcome.

Brianna Brown, we're not stating our address anymore.

Um, just your location.

You could say you're in Erie, you're not in Erie.

Compass neighborhood and Erie.

And if you'll pull the microphone a little bit closer so those at home can hear.

Okay.

Thanks.

Okay.

Um, I'm here to talk about compass as I often do.

Um just to refresh everybody on our issue is that we are a neighborhood that we are completely isolated from Lafayette and Erie.

We have no safe access by trail or sidewalk to anywhere outside of our neighborhood.

This causes safety concerns as our kids are trying to get to Meadowlark, K8 school that's in Flatiron Meadows.

Groups of teens are riding e-bikes along one 19th at rush hour because they want to get to school.

And I appreciate the work of some of the council and some of the town staff for hearing us out and looking into options for putting some sort of sidewalk or safe trail along 119th, there's a 0.3 mile stretch.

That's all we would need to connect compass to the rest of the towns.

So I really appreciate people's attention to that matter.

Um I hope that there could be a way forward.

I feel like it's pretty low-hanging fruit for to have a huge impact on our neighborhood.

And Parkdale once and if once they get finished in their development, that they would also get connected to their school and other parts of Erie with that access.

Also, I know where's the is our timer?

No.

Oh, right here.

Thank you.

Also, um, I'm aware that the Compass Park drawings are progressing.

Last I heard, they're at least 50% done.

Very grateful for that.

We're very excited to see the construction starting on that.

We've been waiting 10 years.

And again, that will have a huge impact on our neighborhood since we're so isolated.

We don't have anywhere to go in our neighborhood, and we have no way of getting out of our neighborhood in a sense that every other community in Erie does have some way, either to gather or to go somewhere together.

Um, and lastly, I was realizing I just wanted to take a moment to honor our good friends, our good friends and our neighbors who um passed away two years ago tomorrow.

I was here last year on the one year anniversary of their passing, they were um killed in a car accident.

So this is Derek and Catherine Moffat who lived in my neighborhood.

And I just want to take a moment to just honor them.

One two years ago, yesterday, they were hit by a driver asleep at the wheel, and um 20 seconds.

It's just part of why I have a heightened concern for road safety and why I no longer will ride my bike on the side of the road, even for that point three miles, I do not want my kids riding their bike, and I just part of why this matters to me.

So I want to remember these people who are very dear to us, and um thank you for your effort and time.

Thanks.

All right, thank you.

That was the last of our speakers.

All right.

Is there anybody else in the audience who would like to address us tonight?

Okay, seeing there's none, we will move forward in the agenda.

All right, I think what we're gonna do is start with the Juneteenth proclamation.

This is item 2026, 320, 2026 Juneteenth proclamation sponsored by council member uh members O'Connor, Pestramelli, and Bear.

Thank you so much.

Um, it's my honor to read the Juneteenth proclamation this year.

I feel like it's very important for us to um recognize and note and commemorate um the end of slavery in 1865.

Um to um note that that freedom didn't start for all Americans on that day.

Um, and so Juneteenth is the is the important holiday for recognizing and celebrating that we're not free until we're all free.

Um, and I am sad that this year we will not be flying the Juneteenth flag in the town of Erie.

Um but I am honored to sponsor and read the proclamation along with my fellow council members.

Whereas Juneteenth commemorates June 19th, 1865, the day when slavery enslaved African Americans in Galvinston, Texas learned of their freedom more than two years after the issuance of the emancipation proclamation.

And whereas communities across the nation observe Juneteenth through education, reflection, service, cultural celebrations, and dialogue that foster understanding and unity.

And whereas, while significant progress has been made since the about abolished of slavery, black Americans continue to face inequities, discrimination, and systemic barriers, and Juneteenth serves as both a recognition of those ongoing challenges and a celebration of the resilience, strength, and lasting contributions of black communities throughout our nation.

And whereas Juneteenth reminds us of the importance of continuing to build a community rooted in dignity, respect, fairness, and belonging for every individual.

And whereas this year's Juneteenth theme, honoring the past, serving the present, and inspiring the future, recognizes the importance of reflecting on our nation's history, supporting and uplifting black communities today, and continuing to build a more equitable, inclusive, and hopeful future for generations to come.

And whereas the town of Erie encourages residents to learn about the significance of Juneteenth and to reflect on the ongoing work of advancing equity, understanding, and justice within our community and belonging.

And whereas Juneteenth traces its origins to the emancipation proclamation issued by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863 and the eventual enforcement of freedom for enslaved people in Texas on June 19, 1865, and was later formally recognized as a federal holiday through the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, signed into law by President Joseph R.

Biden Jr.

in 2021.

And now, therefore, the town council does hereby proclaim that Juneteenth will be celebrated on June 19th, 2026, and calls upon all residents in the town of Erie to observe this month with appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs.

Thank you.

All right.

Thank you, Councilmember Bear.

Okay, we'll move forward to uh second proclamation tonight.

It's item 2026 341, uh, the Loving Day Proclamation, sponsored by Council Members O'Connor and Baer and myself as mayor.

And with this, I'm going to turn it over to Councilmember O'Connor.

Thank you.

Um, so just to give a little background, um, since this is the first time reading of the Loving Day Proclamation by a council member, I wanted to um just provide some information.

Back in December of two of 2025, town staff asked counsel if any member would like to add a proclamation to the list of 2026 proclamations.

I suggested three, and there were no objections from the other members of council.

Loving Day is the first one of these proclamations.

And reading about what Richard and Mildred loving endured had me thinking about the married family members that I have, neighbors and clients, whose marriages would have been illegal and they could have been possibly jailed in some parts of the United States prior to the Supreme Court decision in 1967.

I believe it is important that we remember history, both good and bad, which is why I felt it was appropriate to bring forward the Loving Day Proclamation.

As a side note, I drafted this proclamation based on a proclamation from Caroline County, Virginia, that was the county where the lovings were convicted.

So here is the proclamation.

Whereas until 1957, the state of Colorado banned interracial marriages between white and black residents, and whereas Richard and Mildred Loving were natives of the Central Point area of Caroline County, Virginia, who were arrested in 1958 for violating Virginia's felony law against interracial marriage.

Whereas following their conviction in the Caroline County Circuit Court, their sentence was suspended, provided they not they did not return to their Central Point home or the Commonwealth of Virginia for 25 years.

Whereas the lovings fought their way to the U.S.

United States Supreme Court and nine years later, on June 12, 1967, their conviction was overturned in all anti-missignation laws nationwide ended in as case known as loving versus Virginia.

And whereas Chief Justice Warren wrote in the court majority opinion that marriage is one of the basic civil rights of man, fundamental to our very existence and survival, to deny this fundamental freedom on so unsupportable a basis as the racial classifications embodied in these statutes, classifications so directly subversed to of the principle of equity at the heart of the 14th Amendment is surely to deprive all the state's citizens of liberty without due process of law.

The 14th Amendment requires that the freedom of choice to marry not be restricted by individuals' racial discriminations.

Under our Constitution, the freedom to marry or not to marry a person of another race resides with the individual and cannot be infringed by the state.

Whereas Loving versus Virginia had significant real and symbolic meeting to all of who wish to marry the person they love, no matter who they are.

Now, therefore, the town council of Erie does hereby recognize Friday, June 12th, 2026, on the 59th anniversary of the unanimous Supreme Court decision as Loving Day in the town of Erie, and we call this observance to the attention of all of our residents.

Very good.

Thank you.

Okay, we'll move on to item 2026 358.

It's a 90-second uh celebration video.

We're gonna bring up Julian Joaquin, our economic development director.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor, Council.

Good evening.

I'm Julian Jack when I'm the town's director of economic development.

I won't speak much.

I'll let the video do the work.

I know Adam has it primed up and ready to go.

Um tonight I'm actually here on behalf of our new legislative action team.

Um, as chair of that new group, I'll actually have a few of the people in the crowd today are within that team.

So I'll ask those here to stand up quickly.

Um Luke, Erica, Josh, Dave, Meredith, you're not off the hook.

Um so I think all of us know the town's legislative action team was formed to be more active and proactive in legislative uh activity at the Colorado State Capitol.

We know bills move pretty quick, and the nature of the legislation changes the nature of our business every day with or without us.

We learned a long time ago that it's important to have a seat at the table, or else you're on the menu.

Um so we've had a really good uh involvement this year.

The team's been really active in making sure we track legislation, get involved with our partners, get involved with testifying at the Capitol.

I think our team testified in maybe six or seven bills just as staff this year, which is really important.

Um so we did a video to highlight those efforts.

I also sent everybody a post-session legislative report last month.

If you want more detail, it's in there.

Um, but take a look at the video.

I'm happy to answer any questions.

Thanks, gosh.

Great, thank you.

This year, the town of Erie launched its first legislative action team to create a more coordinated and proactive approach to legislation impacting the community.

Before the legislative session began, the town council approved Erie's 2026 legislative agenda.

That agenda established priorities on issues including housing, transportation, economic development, local control, urban renewal, water, and public safety.

To help implement that agenda, staff from multiple departments met regularly throughout the session to monitor legislation tied directly to their work and areas of expertise.

This group included representatives from economic development, planning and development, transportation, police, parks and recreation, sustainability, communications, and town management.

Together, this team tracks 60 of the over 700 bills introduced during the 120-day legislative session.

This year, Erie also became more active in direct legislative advocacy.

Town staff testified at committee hearings in the Colorado House and Senate on legislation impacting local zoning authority, redevelopment financing, transportation, retail crime, and development regulations.

Staff also coordinated with regional and statewide partners and work directly with legislators on amendments and bill language tied to Erie's concerns and priorities.

This year also included Erie's first day at the Capitol, attended by members of the legislative action team, Mayor Moore and Councilmember Pesar Romelli.

The group visited the House and Senate chambers, observed live committee hearings, and met with the Erie state representatives to discuss legislation and hacking the town and local governments.

In its first year, the legislative action team established a stronger and more engaged presence for Erie at the state capitol.

Thank you to all staff, council members, and partners who helped make this effort possible.

It was a really good day.

So thank you for doing that as well.

Okay, let's move on to our um first and only public hearing uh tonight.

It's item 2026 344, a public hearing and ordinance of the town council of the town of Erie amending chapters six and eleven of and of Title 10 of the Erie Municipal Code regarding landscaping.

And the public hearing is now open.

And I'll tell it to turn it over to Dylan King, our sustainability and water conservation specialist.

Well, thanks for the introduction.

Don't even have to do it myself.

Um good evening, Mayor, Town Council.

Um has already been said, I'm here to talk about proposed UDC changes to Title 10.

The request is the adoption of an ordinance amending Title 10 regarding turf and landscaping.

Um this updates the code around non-functional turf, artificial turf, invasive species, and water-wise alternatives.

Um it's primarily a state alignment um update.

Really quick, just to kind of tell you where we're headed, give a quick background, um, talk about what's being proposed, um, and then get to a decision.

So uh scroll too far.

So the state law requires municipalities prohibit non-functional turf, artificial turf, invasive plant species from being installed on applicable properties.

These applicable properties are CII properties, so that's commercial, industrial, institutional.

It also applies to property within common interest communities.

So think HOAs.

So HOA owned and maintained common areas, rights of ways, parking lots, transportation corridors, and also multifamily units containing 12 or more units.

So just a quick background around the definition of functional turf.

Functional turf is turf in areas regularly used for civic community or recreational purposes.

So examples of this would be playgrounds, playing fields, picnic grounds, grounds around amphitheaters, you know, public public spaces.

The ordinance does not eliminate grass where it's serving a real public community or recreational uh purpose.

Non-functional turf is decorative turf largely.

So this would include turf and street right-of-ways, parking lots, medians, a lot of the spaces that we've talked about already.

Um however, the use of native grass or grasses that have been hybridized for arid conditions are still allowed to be used in these areas.

So the goal isn't bare ground or rocks or things like that.

Um the goal is to try and have waterwise landscaping options that are thriving in these spaces.

Which brings us to the proposal.

So there's essentially four main changes.

Um prohibit invasive species, non-functional turf, and non-functional artificial turf on these applicable properties.

Um allow grass cedar saw that is native or hybridized for arid conditions in these spaces, um, and correcting internal code references and things like that, uh, as well as adding definitions that bring us into alignment with state law.

Which brings us to um the decision.

So um criteria is for 1078.

So this is like you know, what needs to be um brought up for these amendments to happen.

So um staff finds that the amendment or promotes the health and safety and general welfare through water conservation and responsible landscaping design.

Um it's generally consistent with the comprehensive master plan and the UVC um purposes, and it's necessary and desirable.

Uh like I said, it it's bringing us into alignment with state law.

So the public notice process was completed.

Um public notice was published in the Daily Times call on May 22nd of 2026.

Um a neighborhood meeting is not required.

And the planning commission reviewed this back on May 20th and unanimously recommended approval at that time.

So when we think about next steps, um obviously we need to communicate these changes.

So if adopted, the next step would be preparing FAQs, which we've been working on, um, suggesting native and arid adaptive grass options, so making sure that we give people a place to start.

Um, and starting to do stakeholder communication, building out websites and things like that.

We want to make sure that this information is readily available to the public and easy to find.

Um then ultimately the goal is to make sure that people understand what's been changed, right?

So we don't want to leave every anyone in the dark um and show what kind of options are available to meet those changes.

And then finally, the staff recommendation is the adoption of the ordinance.

So amending chapters 6 and 11 of Title 10 regarding landscaping.

And with that, I'm happy to answer any questions y'all might have.

All right, I think I'll first see if we have anybody signed up for public comment.

I do not.

All right.

Um then I'll bring it back to council and we'll start with Councilmember Bear and we'll just work our way around.

Thank you.

Thanks for the presentation.

I'm excited because I think we should have, and I think I've heard a lot from uh developers and from people that they just wish there was guidance on what uh what a waterwise landscape looks like in our area.

I'm curious um who this applies to.

Um so if we have is it just moving forward as we're building out neighborhoods, or will it be for existing HOAs?

Yeah, so existing landscapes won't be subject to these rules, so it'll be for new development moving forward.

And it'll just be good guidance if you have an existing yard or existing right-of-ways that you're looking at redoing.

I know we just did that in um Mr.

Ridge, and it's mostly rock.

Um, but you know, it I think this would have been handy um for for Vista Ridge.

But um, okay, so it'll be moving forward.

Any developments, what about the ones that are in process, like westerly uh Erie Highlands?

Yeah, so that's a good question.

I don't I don't know for sure.

I think it would have to do with which part of the process they're in and what's been okay thus far.

Okay.

All right.

Thank you.

Thanks a lot.

I I think this is uh very good step in the right direction to help help uh certainly with uh water and et cetera.

Um so when will does this get implemented in the next 10 days or you know, when does this just start?

Is it immediate or yeah, it's my understanding that once adopted it would start from there.

Okay, great.

And who is is it primarily developers that are affected, or or could be any uh landowner that was putting in uh you know an area that's gonna be considered a right-of-way or whatnot?

Yeah, so it'd be whoever is developing or owns any of the applicable property types, so whether that be commercial, um industrial or institutional um or HOAs and stuff like that.

So it could it's really who's who, right?

Who who is making sure that this new type of development is happening?

Um so yes, probably developers, but it could feasibly be anybody that owns the land.

And do those right-aways or whatnot require applications?

I mean, would would the town staff already be notified that this was uh occurring in a certain area and and that they're uh in compliance with the organ?

Yeah, it's my understanding that this would just be a part of the overall planning uh review process.

Right, thank you.

All right, Councilman Hope?

Um thank you.

Um this is a great step towards becoming more water-wise, and uh we just need to keep on that direction and thank you very much.

I don't have no questions.

Thank you.

Right.

I don't have any okay, Councillor Rodani.

Um my one question um had been answered via email, and that was that was for the um uh the link to that list of the what's considered was it not?

Yeah, the noxious yeah, okay.

Um I think that also would be helpful for if it is an if I might have missed it, but if it's not already out there, even as homeowners are um doing their own landscaping, that that list is in with information that they might find on the town's website too.

You know, so they know what to maybe not plant.

Yeah, that's a great suggestion.

I think that that would definitely be a resource we would add to the FAQs and it's just the other resource lists that we would be offering on the websites and elsewhere.

Okay.

And um kind of a follow-up to Councilmember Bear's question.

How would we work through that with like if we're half if a development's halfway completed one way?

I mean, yeah, good question.

I I can definitely chase it down for you.

Um I haven't been super involved in the conversations about what we're doing with the people that are in between and stuff like that.

So um I can definitely get together with our planning folks and start to figure out what that process would look like and trying to untangle what happens with developments in various stages of of the planning process.

Okay.

All right.

Thank you.

Of course.

Thank you.

Uh I think only I have a couple questions here.

Um the first would be uh can you explain to me, I understand most of this, but what is the reason behind the prohibiting of non fo non-functional artificial turf?

Yeah.

Yeah, so it's it's a more holistic outlook.

Um so it's not only for water conservation purposes, but we're trying to um say that with artificial turf does come some drawbacks, whether that's um infiltration of storm water, um it increases runoff, whether or not that runoff may have plastics in it.

Obviously, there are more and more products out there that are advertising that they're free of those uh forever chemicals and stuff like that.

Um beyond the stormwater implications, I think it's also important to recognize heat island effects and things like that.

So artificial turf will get really really hot during the summertime and it becomes dangerous for small children and pets and things like that.

So there are there's a multitude of different drawbacks um to artificial turf, and uh the state has provided some guidance saying, hey, you know, maybe let's think about the use cases for this, and it's definitely still a great use case for turf or uh athletic fields and things like that.

But yeah.

Okay, yep.

Yep, thank you.

Uh and then my other question is um is there any consideration for um irrigation on public right-a-ways, for example, like I I know the work we're doing like around the roundabout.

I noticed like you know, we're we're doing a lot of that that low maintenance uh uh landscaping around there, but um there were like it looked like we just had regular oscillating sprinkler heads as opposed to drip lines that use yeah, less water usage.

Is there some thought and venture going to that or yeah?

So I can't speak to that situation directly.

Um, but I do know in conversations that I was a part of um when we were talking about how this would go that we did want to make sure that we were encouraging best management practices when it comes to irrigation types.

Um it's an industry standard at this point to use drip lines for these types of landscapes.

So um while I don't believe this has any sort of irrigation standards built into the ordinance.

Um I would think that it would be it's just an industry norm at this point, so I think that it will kind of take care of itself.

Okay, yep, thank you.

Thanks for presentation.

All right, I don't have any additional questions, so I'll close the public hearing and we'll move right in to see if we have a motion to approve ordinance 2720.

Oh, hold on.

There's a resolution and an ordinance.

So I'm guessing we do the uh resolution first.

The resolution is from the planning commission when they considered this.

So the matter before the council is just the ordinance.

Okay, very good.

So do I have a motion to approve ordinance 272026?

So moved.

Second.

We have a motion and second.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

All opposed say no.

Motion carries.

All right, thank you.

Thanks, everyone.

Have a good night.

All right, our next item is item 2026 362, uh Erie Chamber of Commerce uh 2026 action plan.

Welcome.

Good evening, Mayor, Council.

Thank you so thank you so very much for having me here today.

I am Pat Vero.

I'm the executive director of the Erie Chamber, and I'm here to give you a rundown on all of the town sponsorship that we receive, what we're using our funds for, and then I'll take any questions after.

Uh the Erie, our big mission is to support, promote, and grow the current and future businesses of Erie, the whole community through leadership, community service, development networking, and we bring our community events into that.

Oh, there we go.

Sorry about that.

So we just finished the town fair, and that was on May 16th, and we couldn't have had a better town fair uh in the last several years.

The weather was beautiful.

We must have had anywhere between 12 and 14,000 people come through.

Uh we started out with 280 vendors, and that was everything from our local businesses to all of our community members coming in and having booth spaces, artists, crafters, food booths.

So those 280 booth spaces this year grew because we added in uh kids' market.

So the kids' market was um ages five through 17.

And these kids came in and sold the crafts or the food or whatever they've made, and it was a spectacular addition to the to the event.

So that brought us up to just about 330 booth spaces this year.

We were sold out, and so we also had people wanting to get in, and it was too late.

Um we in fe we featured this year a lot of kids' activities, inflatables, and ninja course.

We had a concert in the park where we had um Bennett's karate come in.

We had the jazz fest uh the jazz band from Erie High School, a local band called Rockin' Horse, and Chris Daniels along with a beer garden.

And I believe that evening we had several thousand people that were had come from the the event and they were relaxing.

We had food trucks that stayed.

Uh so there was plenty of food.

So basically new this year that we had added all together was this kids' entrepreneur market, and we are already signed up for them to come back again next year.

We did a large balloonmeister area with several local pilots to increase uh insight on the upcoming balloon launches.

We also had an an author, Megan Dungan, and she did an author.

Um she authored a children's book on ballooning.

The car show this year.

Well, it says here 40.

I think he said we had 58 cars.

So the town supports the chamber in the town fair for $10,000.

Upcoming, we have our next event is the Balloon Festival and the Balloon Glow.

And this at one point in time was a pretty big event, and it dwindled down.

We're back, we're back to say we have 30 balloons registered.

We have a waiting list of I can't even tell you, but the 30 balloons are coming.

We were very surprised last year with the glow by having 10,000 attendees.

So we get anywhere from two to four in the mornings and 10,000 plus for the balloon glow.

So that's July 10th, 11th, and 12th.

This year we're adding a lot of new activities.

We have two balloons that are going to be doing tether rides in the morning and in the glow.

And those will be like $20 cash, and you'll get to go up and do the teller ride.

We have special shapes coming.

We have a fish bowl, a crab, and then we have a B.

And the B is piloted by a paraplegic, and he is phenomenal.

So he's coming in, which we are going to incorporate Erie's new B.

So they're going to come in and do uh photo shoot on Friday morning to incorporate our B into that.

We're going to be doing a balcony decorating contest at Alora at Colliers Hill, the apartments.

And then I just talked to Miguel, the Erie B will be on.

We will have the Eerie B.

We're just working to see if it's going to be running in the mornings or just for the balloon glow.

We have Highland School, we have the Rec Center for locations that they'll be able to pick up.

And we will have coverage on nine news.

Greet magazine just did an article.

The Broomfield Lifestyle just did an article.

We were just contacted by a group of bloggers or influencers, I guess you'd call them, who have over a million views, and they're coming in to do a story.

So they'll be here for the whole event.

So we're really excited.

This, the town supports us with $30,000.

And for us, this is a community event, and we have no financial gain from this.

I apologize, it says 2025, but July 25th, 2026 is the first concert.

We will have a kids' activities, food trucks, beer garden.

Our performer this year is not Chris Daniels.

It will be Boogie Machine.

So with Boogie Machine, we'll be getting everybody to dress up.

We're going to be doing Hula Hoop contests, kind of trying to bring the community in to have some fun with us.

We'll do a best 70s costume contest.

So the town supports us for the concert for 10,000.

We will be bringing back face again on August 22nd.

It will be the same with the kids' activities, food truck, beer garden.

Usually brings in somewhere around four or five thousand.

So we're looking forward to them coming back.

And the town supports the chamber with 10,000.

We have the Erie Brewfest coming up October 3rd.

This is a ticketed event, and it highlights regional craft beer with all of our breweries here in town.

Some come as far away as over the past.

So we're hoping to have 28 to 30.

I think we'll cap it at 30.

We do have some distilleries coming in.

We have scissors and scotch coming in with some of their bourbon.

And so it'll be good.

We sold, we've sold out on this event for the last several years.

So a lot to do.

We get support from the town of $6,700.

Then we have the Parade Lights that has grown incredibly.

That will be on December 4th.

There's nothing like seeing these floats come down Briggs Street and the residents come out and it's it's pretty grand.

We have hot chocolate and cider, free hot chocolate and cider, Mr.

and Mrs.

Claus.

We are going to limit the uh entries to 4550 because it I think it was getting a little too large.

We will have again street music, expanded choir orchestra.

I believe uh it was an estimated of 10,000 that came last year, the year before.

The town supports us with $7,000.

We do a Dave Stone scholarship.

Uh Dave Stone was a gentleman who lived here in Erie, and he was big on community service.

So we give out um normally two Dave Stone scholarships for graduating uh seniors, they have to be an Erie resident.

They can be attending another high school, but they do have to be an Erie resident, and we give those two scholarships at $2,000 a piece.

This year we were able to add a third scholarship because everybody loves to tip at the beer garden.

So we've used our our tips to increase that scholarship.

So the town supports us on that at 2,500.

Other things that we do that the town supports are seminars.

Last year we did cyber threats, tariffs, AI, marketing, how to run your business, assessing business success, and we had a woman's motivational speaker come in.

This year we've had a state of the town, we've had AR AI Part 2.

We just had uh Lavana Roth with Ignite Your Leadership Shine.

In the works, we have a networking round table with the Louisville Chamber, AI Part 3, Speed Networking, How to Be Effective with Your Home Based Business.

This will be presented by Jesse Asparza, and um and that so that those are the ones we have so far scheduled uh out.

The town supports us where with there with uh 2,650.

We do allow non-members to come to a lot of these events, so it's not just strictly chamber members.

We just we value the town partnership that we have with you because it it allows us to do these events that we would not be able to do if it wasn't for your funding.

Um with the attendance, we try to fix and plan anything that's happened in the prior year to always make it better.

And we are always open for suggestions.

And my dedicated staff is right there, Corey.

So Corey and I uh put these on, and um, she does a phenomenal job.

So our goal here is to really bring people to Erie.

We want everybody to know what Erie is, where Erie is and what we have to offer in Erie.

And we always at every one of our events, we put on posters, everything, visit your local stores, visit your local restaurants.

It's really big.

We want people to come.

They're not gonna visit them that night, but they will come back.

And so um this is just a quick list of our 2025 sponsors.

I won't go through all of them, but we had quite a few sponsors for last year, and we're doing pretty good this year.

Our funding that we receive broken down is your $475 worth of dues.

Our general operations is $7,000, Dave Stone Scholarship $2,500, educational seminars, $2,650, town fair, $10,000, balloon launch 30, both concerts each 10, the Beer Fest, $6,700, and the Parade of Lights for $7,000.

And so your funding to the chambers $86,325.

Thank you.

All right, great.

That was an energizing presentation.

I know all the stuff you do, but to see them all in one presentation, it's like, whoa, you guys really are involved in so much of what we do.

And I think when I think of the small town feeling, a lot of it is these events, right?

The people get to come down and be a part of.

And everybody's loving the bridge.

Yeah.

Yes.

We were lucky this year to have the B was the first big event that the B came to.

And that is, I'm gonna tell you, that is a wonderful addition to this town.

Wonderful.

All right, I'll bring it back to council to see if anybody has any questions or comments.

Um we'll start with uh Councilmember Bear.

Thank you.

Um, thank you.

Yes, I rode the B to Town Fair and home again this year, and it was so great to have that there.

But um, I got to hug your neck in the middle of it, and I appreciate you and Corey because I know you guys were walking around with with clipboards.

Um it's you know, one thing to see on a slide, but to recognize all the work that you guys put in.

It you really do such a kindness and a service to the community.

And not just our community.

I saw my friend Mayor Bruckett from Boulder and Jen Kaush from Superior, who's a trustee, and um just tons of people from all over coming to Erie to see what we have, and that's such a um sort of intangible and unmeasurable benefit.

Um so I just it was a blast.

We had so much fun, and um, I really appreciate everything and just let me know how I can continue to support.

I'm so excited about the balloon fest because I know you guys are gonna do an amazing job with that.

The tether rides are something we've heard for years.

They're gonna be so excited.

So our balloonmeister uh Tamlin Grace is incredible, and she's got connections all over the country and in Canada, and she brought in the tether rides, and we're just really excited because there's so many people that would love to see what it's like, but they don't want to go past the um few feet that they go up.

So yeah, that would be me.

Keep it low.

Um, yeah, and then also the the um having the ribbon cutting for the bridge was really fun that morning.

Um there were a couple hundred people, I think really honestly they were just waiting to get across the bridge to get to town like, sure, we'll take a noisemaker on our way.

So that was super fun, but great job, as always.

Really appreciate you guys.

Okay, councilmember Mortalero.

Yeah, Pat, I don't know how you and Corey and the team do it.

I mean, I'm I'm just blown away by all the the work and and what now you do for for the town and and to create community um and and promote you know yeah.

So thank you for for all that that you guys do.

I I love going to as many events as I can.

I I was there at the the town fair, I thought I'd be there a couple hours, I think four or five hours went by and I was still there.

And it's like so so yes, so appreciate um all the effort that that goes into it.

And you're you must have an amazing volunteer team.

Uh and we do.

We I think we needed 80, 80, 85 volunteers for town fair.

And uh, of course, my husband does wonderful.

We call him the chamber husband, so you know, he's always there lifting and and helping people direct, and so um, yes, and so with the balloon launch coming up.

So if you want to come and you really want to learn about ballooning, this is your chance to come down and help crew.

It's a fascinating job.

You get to help that, you'll be assigned a pilot in advance, so you'll know where you're gonna go.

You will help that pilot unload that balloon, lay it out, blow it up, get it in the air.

Oh, very cool.

So um, what are your biggest challenges?

Well, volunteers always are a big challenge because we do so many events that our volunteer pool starts to go down.

However, the Boy Scouts have has helped with that.

They come to every event, they clean, they do the trash, they they're they're always there, and that's one thing we couldn't do if we didn't have the Boy Scouts coming in.

The volunteers uh are probably one of the top and funding because everything that was a few years ago is now and you know, we we need to keep sponsorship low.

We need to keep boost spaces low.

You know, I refuse to to look at some of these events where the boost spaces are just outrageous.

This allows more small businesses and small companies to be able to come in.

Yeah, so I would say though those would be our two um thank thanks a lot, and thanks again for all that you do.

Thank you.

Um, and we funded a part-time position for volunteer coordination, although I we haven't had an update, so look into our um acting town manager and at a future meeting, maybe in that.

Yeah, thanks.

The idea behind that was that the town could coordinate a volunteer list that can be used for many of the events.

Exactly.

Yeah, and then it would be a place for people to go to just say I want to help, and away you go.

Right.

Council member Hoback, anything.

Oh, thank you very much, Pat.

I enjoy many of the events that are put on, including some of the you know simpler ribbon cuttings that that you oversee each week.

So um that's great.

With the pre the holiday parade breed of lights, are we calling it?

With the pre the holiday breed rate of lights are we calling it um limiting the number of involved are you going are there gonna be criteria that help tighten that down or is it gonna be first come first serve?

Probably first come first serve.

Okay.

You know there's gonna be a lot of changes this year.

It's gotten pretty big and I believe we're one of the only chambers around that do the parade and most parades are done by the the town itself.

And so uh one of the things that we will not be handing out candy anymore because that definitely creates thousands of children in the in the street and we just can't have that.

So we're working on different ideas um to make the parade better is there a better route we could do you know we're we're really just trying to figure that out but as far as um spaces you guys will always have one so you don't have to worry about getting in soon but yeah probably first come first serve or if there was anybody that did not behave in the past parade then they're not invited back.

Rolls us out thank you.

All right that's for yeah that's from Ellie thanks for everything you do I had one question on the scholarship.

Well how much was the amount for each one?

Oh we do two uh they're two thousand dollars a piece so um but then this year we were able to add that second one in and what we've done is is in our beer gardens we've done um the tips all go towards the Dave scholarship funds so we were able to fund that third one so we just four thousand plus two so six thousand we've done six thousand yeah thank you that's just Councilmember O'Connor thank you uh Pat and Corey thank you for all you do um uh with the chamber and for the town uh I'm looking forward to all of these upcoming events um have to say we have a great time every time my wife and and family go down there um and the kids market that was it was those kids produced some some pretty awesome layers to say it was pretty incredible we didn't know where to put them in that originally they were gonna be in Tom Gold's lot okay and they're like we need more so that's when we decided to open up Moffitt and um the kids had a great time.

It was fascinating to see what they created so thank you for everything you did.

Thank you.

Okay Mayor Purdin Yeah thank you uh yeah Pat and Corey thank you so much uh one of the pleasures that I've had in the time I've had up here um I think when your leadership team came on it was about the time that I had started and we were coming out of COVID and uh you guys had a real clear vision on what needed to be adjusted because I I think you were taking over for something that um I I know for the town it was uh maybe too much for us and I know it was too much for for you guys and so we got it streamlined to um events that were kind of the heavy hitters and um and that's what I I mean being a guy that's in quality management that um uh you know I always say quantity or quality over quantity and and that's what you guys have done and um I think another thing that I really appreciate with uh the balloon fest is um you know it seemed like we had buzzards lock back when we had it in May and you never know in Colorado what you get with the weather and so you guys thought outside the box and um so you so we moved the event and and um I'm gonna be so happy to yeah see you see what's coming forth with this um unfortunately I I was uh uh move during the um uh town fair I was moving my son out of college in Grand Junction so I was not there at the bridge opening but uh since taking a walk across there and uh really I watched all the the online videos so really appreciate you guys being out there and all the ribbon cuttings that you guys do and uh you put in a lot of effort and um uh just real quick um because I know um and I know I'd talk to you guys about this before but um with the with the town partnership and um uh I know like one of the zero waste things because I I don't think the public realizes the logistics the coordinations around getting all that to work is is that or are you guys finding that that you you've got the right people involved with that to um uh to help make those work or is there is there things that we could be doing better to help you guys or or starting I mean this was great we would have cardboard boxes cardboard trash cans cardboard recycl cardboard composters waste connections came in this year and brought us 40 or so 20 uh rollable 95 gallon trash 20 recycling bins and then for the compost we put the compost for food scraps only in the food area by the tables where people are eating and they can put their food scraps in there.

So I would say this year it was probably the smoothest we've ever done with trash recycling compost.

It was incredible.

And they're coming to the balloon launch, they're dropping off the bins, they're gonna come and they're gonna dump them after the Saturday morning uh launch, so Friday, Saturday morning, then they're gonna come and dump them so we'll have clean trash.

So this because that has always been a problem.

And it like I said, if it wasn't for the Boy Scouts who took every one of those trash bags and boxes and everything, and we had a good team that we hired this year to help clean.

They were actually, and those dumpsters were filling, and they were actually taking them over to the roll-offs, dumping, you know, dumping them, and then putting them back.

So, but I do feel that this uh this was our first time where Corey and I weren't just going, oh, the trash, the recycling, what do we do?

All right, well, thank you.

Appreciate uh all you guys do.

And uh oh, one quick thing, and that is because I know, like for the for the public when they see your building we're at.

One thing I've always felt bad of is that um uh you know, I know how important having a workspace is for you guys, but I also know that all the problems in that building.

So the uh sadly, this is my last year on council, so mayor, I'm begging you on the next council and whoever the the future town manager is.

What we need to make it a priority in our capital improvement plans to do improvements on those historic buildings because when you're having to keep the back doors open to ensure there's enough heat so the pipes don't freeze, like yes, you've been in there.

Just please don't call Osha on us.

So that's yeah.

So we love our buildings, so you know we have heaters over here and fans, and you know, we'll do what it takes to stay in the building.

There you go.

Thank you.

Part of the small town charm.

Exactly.

All right, well, thank you for coming out and uh giving us an update.

We appreciate it.

Thank you all.

All right.

We're gonna move on to our next item, which is 2026 uh 363, the We Love Erie Business Collective 2026 Action Plan.

Welcome.

Thank you.

Hi everybody.

I am uh Ron DeGrassi, thank you for having us.

I'm on the board of directors for this group.

We you have always known us Erie Economic us as Erie Economic Development Council, EDC.

But we actually literally started economic development in Erie because back then the town didn't have any staff yet.

So we've been doing it for a long time.

Um it's our local businesses that got together to help each other to bring in other businesses to town, and we still do all that, but now the town actually does have staff, and they use the same name, and that's been causing some confusion amongst the residents and the businesses.

So we decided to rebrand, and now we are the We Love Erie Business Collective.

Um you can see our little logos up there, and uh we've got stickers and different things all over town and name tags now, so it's a lot of fun.

Uh this past year, we spent some time conducting a survey, professional survey that was very intense and in-depth to better understand what the local businesses wanted with three of our groups between the town, the chamber, and us.

Um we have that online, and I can send it all to you, but it gave us a lot of information, and it redefined how we move forward our action plan this year.

Um we literally act as advocates for the businesses in town.

We help them with everyday issues.

Not many small business owners have peers that they can turn to that know the answers.

So we are that group.

We give them a chance to talk, we really listen, and we have the resources to help them when it comes time to get something done.

I am not following every little slide we have here because I'm not gonna read you everything it says.

I know it's been in your packet.

Um, and Victoria is helping me.

She's on the board as well and does a ton of work in the background.

We'll go to our board page.

Okay, so our board consists of great volunteers.

We do hundreds and hundreds of hours annually, and this is a lot of free talent that you have access to, that our businesses have access to.

And this is a lot of free talent that you have access to, that our businesses have access to.

We have experience and depth and vision, and it makes a difference when people are talking to us.

It's very valuable.

As far as promotion goes, we do a lot of different things, which is great, but really this is about connecting to Erie residents, our customers.

That's what makes a difference to all of our businesses.

They need people to come in, they need to eat in our restaurants, visit our retail, and it makes a difference when we make those introductions and have that one-on-one connection because that's how the word spreads.

We are Erie's central business hub.

We lead business advocacy with the town and hope to make policy reforms.

As you guys have ideas about what you're doing, we beg you to talk to us first because you don't know what how it might affect a real business.

And staff doesn't know that either, right?

They work for the town, they get a paycheck based on sales tax or any tax revenue coming into the town.

They never have to generate that revenue on their own.

So that makes a big difference.

Uh are growing.

People want to hear more from us this way.

It was one of the biggest things in the survey.

Keep reaching out because they say they don't see everything, they don't always have time to look.

So post it, post it, post it so eventually they see it.

We need to adapt to new technologies.

That's a big part of our action plan.

How AI is being incorporated into everything, how we can reach more, how we can do more with what we already have.

And don't be afraid to change.

You know, help them get past the no, I've always done it this way.

We don't want anything to be stayed.

We want to stay dynamic.

For business promotion, all of this is real, but marketing effectively is so time consuming and difficult as an individual business to stay on top of it each and every week, all on your own, is hard.

We can do it collectively, and that's making a big difference for people.

We make it easy and we're consistent for them.

So that's getting their message out and putting people in their places of business, exposing their services to those who need them.

So the connection is a big deal, guys.

We always want to be part of the community.

We're we're mostly young families.

They want to be outside playing with their kids.

How do we connect to them more and more?

How do we bring in the groups that we're not connecting to that aren't just young families?

We have vision and ideas.

Implementing that is part of our next strategy.

I I'm a big believer in events.

I've been doing them, I don't know, for probably two decades at least.

I know events can pay their own way and make really bring in revenue when they're consistent that the community loves.

They love to be outside and playing.

So let's talk about what we can create together.

Um we definitely need staff to help with this.

But I've done more with economic development on almost a shoestring or no budget to create and generate so many visits and so many businesses that other businesses were literally knocking on my door saying, help me find space, I need to be there too.

This is the place we want to be.

I'd like to bring that energy back to Erie for engagement and community connection.

Again, it's all about reaching our community and the customers, but it's about the relationships we create because that's real.

You know, I know people look at their phones a lot these days, but a real sit-down with somebody, taking them to coffee, having breakfast, an afternoon cocktail, and literally talking to them makes all the difference in the world.

Um we do a shop small event.

The uh small business Saturday of Thanksgiving, you know, big weekend.

This is uh something that brings everybody to town.

We bring in reindeer, Santa, we have live music, and Aura DJ.

We have happy families running around, it's amazing.

Santa literally walks in all the restaurants and stores and visits individually with people, so you're not always just standing in line.

We have a tree lighting, and this year uh we also had a home-based business fair that was so successful that we're inviting them all to be a part of this downtown.

They will be outside, weather could possibly be an issue, but already some of the local businesses have offered to have them inside their businesses as well.

So a lot of cooperation and generosity going on there.

It runs mostly right after Thanksgiving through Christmas through the end of December.

Very, very charming.

Picks up right outside of uh Erie Social Club, right outside the ice rink.

It's absolutely amazing.

And there's a line that's nuts to get on this ride.

It's very, very charming.

It's what sets us apart, I think, from some of the other towns.

We want to expand on that this year.

So our shop small business fair, I mean our home-based business fair.

A lot of people have only home-based businesses.

They're not out in the community at all.

There's no brick and mortar at all.

So we invited them only to have their own showcase spot at Aspirant Ridge Elementary.

It was a banner day, and it happened to be Saturday before Mother's Day.

I was shocked how many people sold out of everything.

It was really fantastic day.

The um as we're acting for advocates, we also have a lot of larger corporations now in Erie, and they're also looking for a way to connect.

They want to be involved and supportive of all these local events and festivals.

We get them excited to reach the community they serve, and that we love.

So it's important that we keep building on events.

The more we can do, we just need staff to help us, is really what it comes down to.

The chamber talked about volunteers.

I've done it forever, and I just know it works so much better when there's somebody in charge.

And then one of the last things is the Sundance Film Festival is also coming the last 11 days of January in 2027.

This is one of the most celebrated cultural events in the country.

It's very exciting.

But we didn't know each other was going to show up.

We just took it up on ourselves.

Every surrounding town in the whole front range that's part of Boulder showed up with their economic development teams, with their downtown development teams, their business improvement districts.

It was amazing.

I think we were the only two Erie or town staff.

I don't know if you guys just didn't know about it, but it's a big deal.

There's gonna be so much overflow.

Boulder can't handle it all by any stretch.

So how do we become the spot that has so much excessive hospitality that these people want to be here?

There's spots that we can sign up.

Um let's see, they have uh we can invite them down.

Uh I want to ask you guys if we can have the ice rink for special events while they're here for those 11 days, make short-term rentals not be a problem.

We're trying to get the horse-drawn carriage ride to stay for those 11 days or do more so we can offer that.

We can make special reservations in our restaurants and hold parties out here.

Um, there will be more than a hundred film crews alone that need a place to have meetings, coordinate, and literally party afterwards.

So we can offer a special spot on their site to say pick Erie.

And if we're exceptional, this is a first impression moment.

You know, let's make it great so that they want to look for us next year.

Um, I know you are reviewing budgets, and we want to do more if you're willing to do more.

We have ideas about collaboring, collaborating with you guys about messaging, creating more special events.

We can do it different than the surrounding communities, and we should.

We want to be the place that sets the next standard that creates the next best thing.

I don't want to follow the leader.

We are the leaders.

We just have to act that way, and we have great vision to help you guys get there.

Um let's see.

I know that uh the value you guys get from us is pretty much measurable.

You can probably see it in the businesses that want to move here in how buildings don't have vacancies in Erie, how we need more space and more growth.

We are your senior cheerleaders basically, and we have the expertise to back it up.

We're trustworthy to the businesses that are looking for us, and we really want to thank you for all you've always done to be supportive and helpful as we help others navigate the town processes.

So I think you can measure it in even sales tax that's generated, the property taxes that you might be collecting, how all these businesses support all the schools and the programs and the sports and the arts that happen.

There's a lot going on there.

I think uh we need to identify some of the barriers that exist with the town through policy.

But once we do that, we have this big economic opportunity that you won't even recognize how much it lifts everybody.

The local businesses will be happy, the residents will be happy.

When they have a certain amount of pride, it reflects on the whole town and on you.

So thanks for all your support.

All right, thank you.

And Victoria, I don't know that you actually got introduced.

Maybe you did right at the very beginning.

Yeah, please do.

I'm Victoria Meyer.

I'm also on the board.

I'm the treasurer.

So if you have any questions, we didn't prepare any slides for that, but I do have some stuff here if you have any questions about how we spend our funding.

All right, sounds good.

And owner of Preepy.

I own PreP, yes, in the building it's in.

Yeah.

Um so first off, um, I just appreciate what you're doing with the events you're doing with the businesses, right?

I think this is a little bit unique.

Um I learned a little bit here tonight as well.

Um thing that I'm a bit confused on is where are the borders, right?

Between the chamber, between you, between what Julian and his team does.

Sure.

I'm not asking you to answer that tonight.

No, it's not it's not hard.

And that's why we did the study.

We wanted to know what the community, the business community thought were the and it turned out that they didn't understand it.

So it's a really smart question.

Um my perspective is the chamber is more business to business, a lot of business networking.

Who else is out there and how can we network together?

We love Erie, the business collective is more about how can we connect the businesses to our community to the customers they need.

How can we help grow their business right here?

The chamber will bring in anybody, they don't care if it's a business from Broomfield, Boulder, Longmont.

We focus on Erie, period.

And the town helps with a lot of when there are issues, right?

We go to economic development to say, okay, this is working, or this is not to work, this is not working, or how do I get around this?

How can you help us through this grant process or this policy?

How can you help us get us through planning, right?

So it's more of a direct relationship with the town.

Yeah.

So we're the advocate for the businesses to help that get them through the town process.

Okay, that's helpful.

I think this is um as Erie grows, there's more and more opportunities, right?

For yeah, each of each organization to be involved and to do more, right?

I think of the chamber with all the big events you're doing, right?

You're bringing in a lot of people to to old town.

You've got some events, but I understand it's more the business to the people and getting that connection.

I gotta process this a little bit, but um hopefully that there will be I know there'll be more conversations.

Yes, we're and we're happy to sit with you.

We're happy for you to attend our meetings, ask any questions you want.

Um I we I think we used to have a liaison, and I don't think we had a liaison for a long time.

So, but yes, we can help fill your mind with good ideas, listen to your good ideas, and let you understand how it helps build on everything, because a good event, and the chamber can't do everything alone, right?

But a good event will literally have people knocking on your door to come to Erie.

Yeah, and this is for me is part of the small town feel, these events, no matter what they are, yeah, and whether everybody goes to every event.

We know that doesn't happen.

There's too many, but there are certain events that people love to go to, and they will always go to those events, and that kind of creates that culture.

And creating new and different ones, that's the next step.

That's where we will lead.

All right, cool.

I think I'm gonna go to my right this time, and we'll just loop around uh the other way.

So, Mayor Jim, if you want to kick us off.

Thank you.

Uh thank you for the presentation.

Um, on the kind of you know, relationship with the town and staff and things like that.

So what uh what for businesses that are members uh that you work with, what what are some of the biggest um struggles that maybe they have in trying to um you know to reach out to the public, you said to get to their customers to get maybe their uh things running the way they need to sure and some of the feedback we got um was really about social media and marketing.

Uh marketing in general, whether you're mailing something, whether you're putting something online.

If you don't know how to do that, that's difficult.

If you're not if you don't know how to have your search engine up there, that's difficult.

Um, so reaching out to people is is probably one of the hardest things.

Um, with the town, sometimes they don't know what permits might be necessary, how to get the right signage so that somebody might see it.

So you hit these little obstacles.

So people are like, I didn't know about that, and why?

You know, so you have these barriers that that just pop up.

One, people don't know about them, and two, they're kind of offended by them.

Well, I'm doing all this, isn't that good enough?

And this sometimes those kinds of things make it charming, make it pretty, make it appealing.

What do you want?

A blank sidewalk.

You don't really want that.

You want color and and happy and something that draws people in.

So navigating that with town staff is something that we have to help with sometimes.

Thank you.

Okay.

Councilmember O'Connor.

Thank you.

Um, thank you for the presentation.

I uh I didn't know or haven't followed your social media um pages.

So it looks like you have We Love Erie and downtown Erie.

Is that we have a couple of different ways that people can find us, sure.

Okay.

Okay.

It's it's curious that downtown Erie has it, almost 3,000 followers, almost three times as much as we love Erie.

Well, we love Erie just started about nine months ago.

Okay.

So downtown Erie's been around a lot longer.

I figured it was a timing.

Yeah, so okay.

No, it's I just I'm gonna have to check that out.

Thank you.

I appreciate you highlighting it there.

So more of us know about it.

Yeah, I think we have just about 85 members in our group that that paid dues to help us accomplish the things they want us to accomplish.

Yeah, you just answered my question.

Is there a membership fee?

Yes.

There's a fee, it's a range and um so people can come in at a very low cost just so they can be a member.

And how do people know about it?

Like do you publish or do you have a through the social media would say is our main way to do that.

So right now it's only social media and from businesses in town.

Okay.

All right.

And I also walk around town literally, knock on doors, introduce myself and say, hey, thank you for doing business in Erie.

And most of the time they've never heard that in their career.

Right.

So it makes an impression.

Thank you.

All right.

Thank you very much for the informative presentation.

I don't have any questions.

But I like what I see.

Rhonda Victoria and your we love your team.

You know, thank you for the passion that you guys bring to the community to the town and and helping with with other businesses and bringing them in.

You know, I I look at that as kind of the heartbeat of Erie in the fact that you know it brings people into Erie, it gets people out of their homes and and downtown, and it's invaluable to me.

I I see that there's a huge opportunity.

I just started noticing your reels on Facebook.

Is that newer?

Am I just catching up?

Yeah, we started it this year, I think.

Yeah.

Yeah, so I those have been great.

They show up in my feed all the time, which I love that.

Well, and I must compliment you.

You guys were an inspiration because the police department has the best.

Yeah.

So I I like that woman every every every I just love that.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Fantastic.

Fantastic move, yeah.

Informative and entertaining.

Exactly.

Yeah.

So and then you know uh Sundance coming up and and and how to how do we help, you know, get support that and bring that in, and and maybe that's something, you know, I I know we have a pack schedule and whatnot, but maybe look at a study session for um, you know, Sundance and and and other you know, and in addition, other things we can do to help your team and in your community.

I know Julian and Stephanie, you know, uh are are you know help you guys out a lot and and work closely with you, but um you know, is there more that that we can do and get that maybe get them help or or sure.

I don't know that you need a special study session.

I know you have a lot of meetings, but I promise to keep staff informed.

I know they'll keep you informed, and we'll just come up with an action list of if something's gonna happen, this is what it we need it to look like.

Yeah, and and maybe look at liaisons, you know, from staff and and from council to to help if if you you know you're currently don't have have that because uh again, you know, what you guys do for the town is is huge.

Um I would say you know, everybody loves open space, but everybody loves you know the the activities in the community as well.

And and I'm you know, liaison on open space and and you know I I think what you guys do is equally as important as some of the other you know boards that we have and whatnot.

So maybe we can do something there.

And I I know signage is is something that you guys have been you know advocating for for for a while, and and so I'm hoping that we can make some progress on that as well.

Yeah, we have some great ideas, and it'll be fun.

It'll be different and it'll be fun.

Great, cool.

Thanks again.

You're welcome.

All right.

Thank you so much for this presentation.

Um shout out to Amber Lutrell or Pio and at EPD, you guys can't compete.

She's so good.

I think she won an award, like state, like the best Pio in the state or something, which is public information officer.

Um and also Kelly Black, I think you guys should leverage her because she's putting out some really funny reels for a tape and twine too.

Yeah, she's on a two-week vacation right now.

She'd be standing here.

Right.

Right.

Yeah.

Um and she and I actually had a conversation, I think like four or six months ago, and she was saying that she needed a liaison from the council.

Um, and asked if I could do it.

I I have quite a few.

Um, but I I am an advocate for that, so that we can stay connected.

Um, nobody wants to take more of your time.

I totally get what it takes.

But we can tell you when it's important to be there.

You know, yeah.

And and maybe that's good enough.

Yeah.

Um also the uh Sundance is that's a great note.

And I know that we would talked about that before, you know, Malcolm.

Well, Malcolm was still here, and that was a priority, and we've had to shift our plans for the work plan.

But I I would love to have maybe like a task force or something to figure out how we can help support.

Um I'm not sure what staff capacity is, like, you know, we're running thin, but um I think it would be really great because I hear from folks in the community even that they're asking me if there's a website that they can sign up for short-term rentals, put their house on short-term rentals, and if we have any support for that, and I know other communities do, and there's lots of exciting things um happening and um leveraging.

I think we love Erie and their passion and uh energy, maybe a good way for us to be able to participate in that.

Um I'm interested to see where that can go.

But um I think that that's a unique um opportunity for us to have Sundance here.

So I would like to see something happen with that.

Um let's see.

I think that was that was it.

I just I don't I don't want to volunteer staff for anything, especially Julian and Steffi.

Stephanie, I know that you guys work so hard.

And just so you know, they're already at our beck and call.

They work so hard and they take good care of us.

Yeah, good.

I know they're so great.

Um, so anyway, uh I'm happy to support however I can support, but I'm you know just one of all of the council members.

I think all they need to hear is now that you are supportive of Sundance, and as long as we communicate and said this is the next steps, they'll help us get through it.

And if there's something questionable, they're gonna let you know.

All right, wonderful.

Thank you.

Um appreciate the update.

Yeah.

All right, we're gonna move on to council member reports and announcements.

Um how about we start at the far end uh this time with Council Member Petersonelli?

I don't have an update.

Okay, Councillor O'Connor.

Uh I've got a couple tree related ones.

Um through June 15th, uh, just a few days away, the town of Erie residents may be eligible to receive up to 200 credit on their water on their utility bill for qualifying purchases of one tree to be eligible for the program.

Tree purchases must be made during the optimal planting period, which ends June 15th for the spring program.

There are a list of qualifications that must be met to receive this rebate, and those can be found on the town's website or by visiting uh eerieco.gov forward slash trees and look for tree planting programs on the left column.

Um this program, there are also other programs for HOA, schools, nonprofits if you if they're interested.

Um, and if you do miss the spring window, the fall program is open um from September 1st through October 15th.

And my second tree uh announcement related announcement is on June 11th at 6 p.m.

You can join the town forester and the tree board for a tree walk at the bone yard uh at Reliance Park, the dog park.

Uh bring your dog for a walk and uh check out the trees um in the dog park.

Very good.

All right, Mayor Pro Tim.

Thank you.

Um just one thing real quick.

And um uh David, could I have your assistance for a second?

Um thanks.

So questions real quick that came up online uh yeah, I so um I want to appear because I even though I'm a uh my my degrees in CS, even though my job titles engineer or like I'm not an actual engineer, there's a difference being a professional engineer.

Uh yeah, I so um I wanted up here because I even though I'm a uh my degrees in CS, even though my job titles engineer are like I'm not an actual engineer, there's a difference being a professional engineer.

So um but uh regarding uh the ponds at Vista Ridge.

So I I think I know the answer to this, but I just I just want to uh ask you so that I can have somebody actually in this background that are says.

So my understanding those ponds are our detention ponds, correct?

Correct, yeah.

And so can you explain the difference between a detention pond and a retention pond?

Yeah, uh great question.

Uh detention pond is a pond that has a designed outlet structure designed to release at specific rate.

A retention pond holds water in perpetuity.

So it's basically a designed constructed facility that would have a liner of some sort to help keep water within the pond um infrastructure.

Yeah.

So with the work that's being done out there, since those were engineered as detention ponds, they were not functioning as they were designed.

Correct.

Yeah, yes.

Okay.

So I I think there was some confusion in the public because there are a lot of people saying we're removing the ponds.

We're not really removing them.

They're just I I think some people refer to them as dry ponds too, right?

Yeah.

Um typically you're not gonna see any standing water in detention ponds unless there's a rain event.

So yeah, it'd be a dry pond unless there's a rain event in place.

So yeah.

And then the other thing I want to ask is a lot of people talked about it being a wetlands are and uh my understanding is that actual wetlands are I think the Army Corps of Engineers has to define the perimeter area for those, and there's nothing like that that's happened here, correct?

Correct.

Yeah, I it's not uncommon for uh detention or retention facilities to grow uh wetlands plants.

Yeah, um cattails, things of the like, but um to your point, yes, a defined wetlands is something that's defined specifically by the Army Corps of Engineers and by the state and the federal.

So and then the last question, because it came up, I guess there were some some bird nests out there, and the the town reached out to was it the Department of Wildlife or the sound of the moving those, so yeah.

Yeah, so uh it came to our attention um by staff and by our contractor that there were some uh nesting migratory birds um within the pond 819.

Once we were notified that that had happened, we reached out proactively to the state and to the federal U.S.

wildlife service and talked with them about what possible next steps are and have discussed internally as well and made a decision to hold off on disturbing those until the nesting season has ended.

Um we do have some other work we can keep proceeding with at this time, um, but that specific piece will be delayed for a little while.

Yep, okay.

Thank you.

Appreciate that.

Um yeah, so just uh for the public, yeah.

I just wanted to just be careful with what you read online, like uh and I I know our staff is always happy to answer questions.

So thanks, appreciate that.

All right, great.

That's very bear.

Yeah, thank you for that.

That five minutes through that.

That was we got a lot of questions about that.

Detention versus retention.

That's good vocabulary for me.

Um so shout out to our legislative action team.

Um that you guys did a great job first year doing that, and I was um really pleased with how that went.

And I know that it's a lot.

I was the second vice chair for um the legislative committee for Colorado Communities for Climate Action, and I'm still tired.

Like it was so much to keep track of.

Um, and thank you for all the reports and updates and and the kind of the final catalog too of of where we ended up.

Um there is a Juneteenth celebration on Juneteenth um from 6 to 8 p.m.

in front of Bridge Market, Bridge Refill Market.

Come out, buy some food from Stacey's kitchen and uh there's music.

Hope the community will be there.

Um see you on the dance floor.

Um Pride was awesome this last weekend, so much fun.

Um so great to see everybody out there.

Um and just the community showed up again, and it was really wonderful to celebrate together.

Um I was the bouncer for the um Shirley Delta blow, who's our drag queen story time.

And I think I'm three feet shorter, so that was kind of funny, but we had a blast.

Um and then the EPD ceremony that we had last week, we gave three awards, um, life saving awards to uh officers, and we swore in six new officers in town, and then also um debuted our honor guard, which was really awesome.

I'm so glad that I didn't realize we didn't have one, and now we do, and that was that was really great.

Um at NATA this last week.

Um, our transportation division came out and um did a presentation on the interchange study on I-25.

I learned two new acronyms, TAS and TMD, TAZ and TMD.

And I have to look them up.

Um TAS.

Okay, phone a friend.

No, here it is.

TAS is transportation analysis zones and TMD is travel demand model um or TDM.

I wrote it down wrong.

Uh so we want to what what this study has highlighted is that um the state members may not be reflecting our actual lived on the ground experience.

And so um that was an interesting part of the of and random part of the interchange study that uh may be affecting a lot of communities, and so um there'll be more to come on that as we kind of dig deeper into those numbers.

Um it's something that I think a lot of communities have known for a long time, and like at Dr.

Cog, we talk about this a lot.

Um, and so through this study, we're kind of beginning to pull back the threads to see where that's origin where the trouble is origining originating from.

Um and then also thanks to Jurassic Director Passic today.

Um, we had a meeting regarding 287 design uh with CDOT and our transportation commissioner um just to ensure that we are seeing the safety improvements out there with it with the grant that we were able to um uh secure not the town of Erie, but um you know CDOT security grant.

So exciting things are happening.

Um numbers for the B are great, and everyone should use it.

It's a great service.

So that's it.

All right, Councilman Mortalero.

All right, just a couple things.

One, I want to thank um you know John and David and the team uh for one eleven in Arapahoe.

I know that was a very big project and a very, very busy uh intersection that is creates all kinds of challenges.

Uh so I know, you know, but you did a great job.

I travel that um I travel that uh intersection every day.

And uh, you know, yeah, there were some delays, but uh done really well.

I I did try and stay away from I listened to the signs and I stayed away from it evening rush hour.

Um, but I was there in morning rush hour, and uh like I say all in all, I I think you know it went really well.

I appreciate all the the folks working it and and all the safety precautions that were put in place to make sure that uh it went as as smooth as possible.

So thank you for that.

And also uh I want to re um reiterate what Pat mentioned about the Colards Hill Bridge.

I've been downtown a couple of times since it's been open, and it is getting a lot of traffic.

You see, it's great seeing families and you know uh parents and kids you know going across it and and coming into town.

So um, you know, great job on that as well.

All right, great.

Um thank you.

Uh Pride was a lot of fun, uh, a lot of good music, dancing, food, joy.

Um, and I heard a lot of good comments, positive comments about the banners along Brick Street.

So kudos to anyone involved in that.

Um and to add on to Councilmember Bear's comments about the police department um swearing in.

Uh we swore in an Erie High School graduate, Officer Janet Russell, I believe.

So that's that's exciting to have a hometown person on the on the on the force.

Um as some residents are residents are now aware of a special session has been called for next week and added to the council calendar to accommodate a vote on a contract with SM Energy for the sale of town's mineral rights.

Unfortunately, I cannot be there.

For over nine months, I've had travel plans to attend my son's graduation out of state, which will keep me from attending.

I requested to the mayor that this very important agenda item be a delay so that I could be in attendance.

The response was that because it was already widely communicated, the change would be significant, and suggested that perhaps I could attend remotely.

Widely communicated in the situation amounts to an announcement made only one week ago, and I cannot return attend remotely.

To say the least, I find it disheartening.

This item is being rushed, especially after listening most of the past 18 months that we should not rush decisions along with the enormity of input we have had from town residents on this issue.

So it will have to be through other avenues that I will submit my thoughts and concerns on the facts of the contract, the ethics of its negotiations, and legal concerns that have been voiced both by residents and the community and legal legal professionals outside the community and challenges to the interpretations of land use.

Stay tuned, stay informed.

Thank you.

All right.

Metro Mayor's Caucus was last week.

Always fun to get with the peer mayors.

Many similar challenges were going through.

It's kind of a support group too, because we're all dealing with so much.

So time always well spent there.

I've been talking with many residents on both water and Draco.

When you put a blog out and you say contact me, um, get ready.

And I was happy to see how many people did actually reach out and appreciated the conversations that I was able to have for that.

They're always informative.

We hosted the CML district two meetings here a couple weeks ago.

Uh great turnout for that.

Um and was happy that uh you know we were able to do that in Eary and staff did a great job putting it on.

Very professional.

Um people were impressed with the rec center and and um what we have there so that we can have these community uh gathering spaces.

Uh 111th Narrapo, I needed to say that one as well, because I live over in that area.

It's awesome, and I didn't mind the traffic delays as it was going through, but that left-hand turn lane is already has changed the the whole dynamic of the of what's going on out there.

So thank you for that.

Um let's see.

I've asked um our acting town manager to look into a proclamation for the nation's 250th birthday and Colorado's 150th birthday.

And um, I've already got a draft back, and so I'm hopeful to get that on the last agenda um here for us um as we close up June.

And then last on the on the Draco.

Um, if anybody thinks we've rushed this, we've been working on it for um basically over a year.

We've had two um study sessions on it, bringing everything forward and and to light.

Um and there comes a time where you've got all the information and a decision needs to be uh made.

Um I was unaware uh 10 months ago or 12 months ago whenever you said you knew about this, um, that uh council member hoback could not be there.

Um it was just brought to my attention, even though this has been known on the advanced agenda uh since the end of May.

So you know it is what it is.

I know sometimes we take vacations, I've missed meetings, it happens.

Um and we always do have a remote option for any of us to be able to call in and participate um on these meetings remotely when possible.

So all right.

With that, I'm gonna look to the mayor pro ten to take us into executive session.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um sorry what about announcements from attorney or oh sorry, I missed uh uh two agenda items.

They were probably going, oh, thank thank goodness.

Sorry.

Yeah, no worries.

Yep, all good.

I would point of order, thank you.

I'll turn it over to um uh Meredith Mooth, our acting town manager.

I do have a uh report from an earlier question you asked about the volunteer coordinator position that we have.

Um that position became was new this year, and it's really designed uh for us to get uh volunteers for town events and town programs.

It's not a position for town wide, unfortunately.

Interesting.

Um I remember the conversations we do the budget this year.

Um let's have that conversation again.

Yeah, okay, and our town attorney.

I can read a room, so no announcements.

Thank you.

All right.

Now I'll look to our mayor for Tem.

Okay, thank you, Mayor.

Um I move to go into executive session to discuss item 2026 372 to determine possessions, positions relative to matters that may be subject to negotiations, develop a strategy for negotiations and/or instruct negotiators pursuant to CRS 2464024E and to consider the purchase acquisition lease transfer or other sale of real personal or other property pursuant to CRS 246424A, for which a topic cannot be disclosed without compromising the purpose of executive session.

All right, do we have a second?

Second.

All right, motion and second.

All in favor, say aye.

Pardon me, Mayor.

Don't we have to have a roll call vote for this?

Uh I don't think so.

To go into executive session?

Yes, I believe we do.

Okay, we probably have been not doing the right protocol now for some time if that is the case.

If not, I'd like to call for one.

Okay, fair enough.

All right.

Well, the town clerk please take a roll call vote.

Absolutely.

Councilmember Baer.

No.

Council Member Hoback?

No.

Mayor Pro Tembell.

Yes.

Councilmember O'Connor?

Yes.

Councilmember Pesimarelli.

No.

Councilmember Mortalero.

Yes.

And Mayor Moore.

Yes.

All right.

So the motion fails to go into exec session.

The topic revolves around the airport, I believe.

And so I'd like to ask counsel that voted no not to go into exec session, just what the reasoning is.

And because I don't want to put staff on, you know, if they were expecting to have confidential conversations for negotiations, I just want to understand that.

Understood.

It was just placed on the agenda.

No consultation of counsel as to why it needs to go to executive session.

And right now the community is a little uneasy with going in the executive session.

I think we need to bring more transparency into it as to what these are for.

And why and why executive session is called for.

So I'll look to our acting town manager.

I'd rather not create a process on the fly this evening.

But I'm happy to uh work with the town attorney to come up with a process when we have items that we feel qualify for executive session that you guys get a way to know what they are in advance, and we can discuss what options there are for being transparent to what extent we can be transparent with what the topic is.

But if it's okay with David, I'd say we postpone this item tonight and come up with that process for future executive session items.

Okay, and I'm I'm okay with doing that as well.

Certainly if we're negotiating something with regard to the airport, um that's exactly uh the reason we have executive session for uh negotiations.

Um I I would point out um received I believe there was a memo that yeah went out.

Um everybody should have been well aware of what the subject of this was, so I I'm really confused.

Uh and I made it a point to the mayor because I do know that people were concerned about us potentially discussing Draco.

I said to the mayor before the meeting, I think there's because the language of this is the same for every uh whether this was like when we bought um uh the Regency property for King Supers when we bought Cheesman, uh the language is always the same, and you can go back to every single executive session where we have or we do a property uh transfer.

Uh the language is all the same.

So it's imperative on us to you know read emails ensure that that you know we're up to speed on things, and um I I think it's a little disingenuous to now the appearances that we're trying to hide stuff, and the the reality is is that these we we have these for the purpose of ensuring that when we have a negotiated process that that uh you know we can't have good negotiations on on where we're trying to uh potentially get a deal with something that to have that in public.

Um so I I think I I would ask for one of the three that voted no to um reconsider the motion all right so that we can discuss this because this this is an inconvenience on staff.

David's here tonight to talk about interport.

I appreciate the concern for inconvenience convenience.

Um I do not appreciate once again and time again being called disingenuous or doing a stunt.

No, you you let him get away with this crap, Mayor.

Tired of it.

I understand and I hear you.

Do you it's yes, I do hear.

This is not the time to have that debate.

I'm going to adjourn the meeting.

We will reconvene at a time when our emotions can just be calm and we can do it.

And David, I apologize.

He sat through the whole meeting for this exact session.

All of us had the information through an email to let us know.

But we didn't know why it needed to be in executive session.

Yes, and we all have the email and we all have an obligation to ask questions because we had that um quite some time ago.

And we all have access to our attorney, we all have access to our our acting town managers.

So I encourage you if you don't want to go into exec session, be transparent with staff, be open, because now we will put this off and uh we have wasted time.

All right, with that I adjourn the meeting.

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