Grand Junction City Council Regular Meeting - February 4, 2026

The Grand Junction City Council met in regular session on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, at 5:31 p.m. in the City Hall Auditorium at 250 North 5th Street, and adjourned at 8:06 p.m. Council President Cody Kennedy presided; Councilmembers Robert Ballard, Scott Beilfuss, Laurel Lutz, Jason Nguyen, Anna Stout, and Ben Van Dyke were present. City Manager Mike Bennett, Interim City Attorney Jeremiah Boies, Police Chief Matt Smith, planning staff, and City Clerk Selestina Sandoval were also present. The Council voted unanimously to appoint Jennifer Landini to the Grand Junction Housing Authority Board for a partial term expiring October 31, 2028.

Consent Calendar

• Approved by a single unanimous voice vote (motion by Ballard, second by Lutz) all routine consent items except the two legislative set-public-hearing items (2.a.i and 2.a.ii), which were pulled for separate discussion.
• Approved minutes of the January 26, 2026 Workshop and January 21, 2026 Regular Meeting.
• Set public hearings for: the Patterson Road/29 Road rezone (3.60 acres, MU-1/RM-12 to MU-2, Feb 18, 2026); the Ricciardella Annexation zoning to RM-8 (7.37 acres at 2716 B 1/4 Road, March 18, 2026); and a resolution amending Resolution 69-25 related to the Ricciardella Annexation and annexation hearing (March 18, 2026).
• Approved the Pecos League User Agreement at Lincoln Park Stadium for Summer 2026.
• Authorized sole source contracts to Garney Construction for wastewater treatment plant work (replacement of the 26-year-old Tow-Bro Circular Clarifier Assembly in Final Clarifier #4 at the Persigo Wastewater Treatment Plant, and replacement of suction and discharge piping on large wastewater pumps in the Raw Sewage Pump Building) and to Taylor Fence for replacement of lift gates at the Public Safety Campus.
• Issued revocable permit resolutions for sky bridge, sanitary sewer, and storm sewer encroachments in the Block 126 alley at 230 S 5th St; corrected a clerical error in the Resolution 69-25 property address; and adopted a resolution supporting federal reauthorization of funding for the Department of Energy Grand Junction Uranium Disposal Site.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Noreen Alexander voiced concern about Councilmember Ballard's upcoming deployment, saying she wanted him to be safe but did not believe he could adequately represent constituents remotely for a full year; she said she was not denigrating his service.
• Maria Shawcroft, an Orchard Mesa resident, reported that the city is considering leasing the historic Lincoln Park Barn to CMU for 25 years without community use; she called the barn a community and historic asset with a $2.2 million insurance valuation, expressed support for preserving it, offered to serve on a committee about its future, and urged the city to keep the barn under city control.
• David Lord, a Matchett Park-area resident, described two and a half years of volunteer cleanup of more than 50 acres, including 70 tires, 12 pallets, 20 bags of shag carpeting, and four homeless camps; he proposed naming an existing trail Hershey's Loop in honor of his dog and provided documentation to Council.
• In non-scheduled comments, Chris Mackaney, a Cobblestone Ridges resident, criticized the Council's earlier adoption of Resolution 13-26, arguing it improperly allowed a developer to use previously dedicated public open space for a density bonus, violated the land use code and comprehensive plan, and was adopted without public process; he asked Council to reconsider. Another resident, Tim, requested a left-turn arrow at 28 1/2 Road and North Avenue near the community food bank, saying the intersection is dangerous.

Board and Commission Liaison Reports

• Councilmember Beilfuss reported on the Business Incubator Center (115 businesses operating there) and Riverview Technology Corporation issues involving DOE property.
• Councilmember Lutz reported that the Commission on Arts and Culture received 33 funding applications requesting $128,775 for 2026-2027, eight more applications and about $27,000 more than the previous year.
• Councilmember Stout previewed the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board agenda and reported on Colorado Municipal League work, including opposition to House Bill 2026-24 on drone regulation, which she said would eliminate local ordinances by declaring drones a matter of statewide concern.
• Council President Kennedy reported on Museums of Western Colorado financial challenges and a planned feasibility study of its three sites.

Discussion Items

Bicycle Parking and Pedestrian Access Code Amendments - Tabled

Two proposed code amendments, pulled from the consent agenda, were tabled indefinitely by unanimous voice vote (motion by Van Dyke, second by Lutz). The City Manager explained that staff and the Housing Affordability Committee Task Force (HACTF) had established a new review process, and these items needed to go back through that process before public hearing dates were set. Staff had prepared alternatives to the HACTF recommendations for bicycle parking and pedestrian access; the staff alternative included a corrected long-term bicycle parking ratio of .08 spaces per unit. Council took no action on the merits.

Zoning and Development Code and 24 Road Corridor Design Standards - Ordinance No. 5304

Principal Planner Tim Lehrbach presented a package of staff-initiated code corrections and clarifications covering planned development references, mixed-use downtown district standards, short-term rental parking, accessory uses and structures, shared driveways, access to public streets, multi-unit design standards, and 24 Road Corridor service/storage screening. The Planning Commission recommended approval 4-1 on January 13, 2026, with a storm drainage/retention pond item remanded and excluded. The public hearing opened and closed at 6:02 p.m. with no public comments. Council approved the ordinance 7-0 on final passage.

Gaming Arcade/Gaming Use Moratorium Extension - Ordinance No. 5305

Council heard from Interim City Attorney Jeremiah Boies and Police Chief Matt Smith. The ordinance extended for one additional year the prohibition on new or relocated gaming arcades or gaming uses, originally adopted as Ordinance 5125. Staff cited ongoing litigation and a need for judicial decisions to mature before the city adopts a permanent response. Public commenter Noreen Alexander supported the extension, describing negative impacts from gaming businesses near her former business. The public hearing closed at 6:10 p.m. Council approved the ordinance 7-0.

Comprehensive Plan Amendment - 377/379 29 Road - Ordinance No. 5306

Planning Manager Thomas Lloyd presented the request by Sunshine of Delta, Inc. to amend the Comprehensive Plan land use designation for 3.72 vacant acres at 377 and 379 29 Road from Residential High to Mixed Use. Staff found the request consistent with the corridor and neighborhood-center planning framework; applicant representative Sparky Moyer said the area has transit access, a riverfront bike path, and nearby commercial development. The public hearing opened and closed at 6:22 p.m. with no comments. Councilmember Stout stated on the record that she found the criteria met. Council approved the ordinance 7-0.

Rezone - 377/379 29 Road - Ordinance No. 5307

Council considered the accompanying rezone of the same 3.72 acres from Residential Medium 12 (RM-12) to Mixed-Use Light Commercial (MU-2). Staff found the rezone consistent with the newly approved Mixed Use designation, the tiered-growth and intensification plan, and existing MU-2 development nearby. The public hearing opened and closed at 6:34 p.m. with no public comments. Council approved the ordinance 7-0. Council then took a recess from 6:35 to 6:45 p.m.

Morelli Annexation Zoning - Ordinance No. 5308

Principal Planner Tim Lehrbach presented a request to zone the recently annexed 2.56-acre Morelli property, located between 3105 E 1/2 Road and 3112 I-70B (Parcel 2943-103-00-101), as Mixed-Use Light Commercial (MU-2). The property is vacant, and the requested zoning implements the Commercial Comprehensive Plan designation. The public hearing opened and closed at 6:51 p.m. with no public comments. Council approved the ordinance 7-0.

Camelback Gardens Planned Development Inclusion of City Open Space - Resolution No. 13-26

Principal Planner Daniella Acosta Stine presented a request to authorize inclusion of approximately 15 acres of adjacent city-owned open space within the Camelback Gardens Planned Development and Outline Development Plan boundary. The PD proposes 90 dwelling units on 10.29 acres of private land; including the open space yields an overall density of about 3.6 dwelling units per acre, within the Residential Low range. Without inclusion, the density would be 8.75 units per acre and the applicant would need to reduce the unit count by 34 units, from 90 to 56. The resolution does not transfer ownership, alter open-space use, reduce public access, or change maintenance responsibilities. The city property committee supported the request on January 29, 2026. A neighbor, Chris Mackaney, attempted to comment but was deferred to non-scheduled comments because this was not a public hearing. Councilmember Stout confirmed the open space would not be developed. Council adopted the resolution 7-0 by voice vote.

Councilmember Ballard Military Deployment Resolution - Postponed Indefinitely

A resolution to excuse Councilmember Ballard from certain absences and authorize remote participation during his Army National Guard deployment (departure April 2, 2026, for approximately one year) was considered. Councilmember Ballard recused himself and left the auditorium at 7:13 p.m. City Manager Bennett and Interim City Attorney Boies presented the proposal and answered questions. Councilmembers expressed differing views: Council President Kennedy strongly supported it as protection against potential misuse of home-rule procedures; Councilmember Van Dyke supported Ballard and said opposition was politically motivated; Councilmember Lutz supported protecting deployed service members but moved to postpone; Councilmember Stout opposed the resolution as unnecessary and objected that the matter had not first been discussed in a workshop with Ballard present; Councilmember Nguyen questioned the need given the charter's five-consecutive-meeting vacancy threshold; Councilmember Beilfuss raised the possibility of interim representation for the district. The Council voted 6-0 to postpone the resolution indefinitely and discuss the topic further at a future workshop.

Other Business

• Councilmember Stout advised that she would be unavailable Sunday through Thursday of the following week to attend a conference.
• Council President Kennedy reported that he and Councilmember Lutz met with U.S. Representative Jeff Hurd to discuss federal transportation dollars and the airport.

Key Outcomes

• Appointed Jennifer Landini to the Grand Junction Housing Authority Board for a partial term expiring October 31, 2028 (7-0 voice).
• Adopted the consent agenda except the two bicycle/pedestrian code items (7-0 voice).
• Tabled the bicycle parking and pedestrian access ordinance introductions indefinitely (7-0 voice).
• Adopted Ordinance No. 5304 (Zoning and Development Code/24 Road Corridor amendments) 7-0.
• Adopted Ordinance No. 5305 (gaming arcade/gaming use moratorium extension for one year) 7-0.
• Adopted Ordinance No. 5306 (Comprehensive Plan amendment, 377/379 29 Road, Residential High to Mixed Use) 7-0.
• Adopted Ordinance No. 5307 (rezone 377/379 29 Road from RM-12 to MU-2) 7-0.
• Adopted Ordinance No. 5308 (Morelli Annexation zoning to MU-2) 7-0.
• Adopted Resolution No. 13-26 (Camelback Gardens PD inclusion of 15 acres of city-owned open space) 7-0 voice.
• Postponed indefinitely the resolution on Councilmember Ballard's military deployment absences and remote participation (6-0, Ballard recused).
• Meeting adjourned at 8:06 p.m.