Grand Junction City Council Regular Meeting - May 6, 2026

The Grand Junction City Council held its regular meeting on May 6, 2026, at 5:30 PM in the City Hall Auditorium. The meeting included the election of a new Council President/Ex-Officio Mayor and Council President Pro Tem/Ex-Officio Mayor Pro Tem, presentations, proclamations, public comments, a consent agenda, and action on two major items: a resolution to ban fireworks sales and reconsideration of a resolution involving city-owned open space for the Camelback Gardens development.

Election of Mayor/Mayor Pro Tem

• Councilmember Laurel Lutz was unanimously elected Council President/Ex-Officio Mayor (7-0).
• After two nominations, Councilmember Jason Nguyen's nomination for Council President Pro Tem/Ex-Officio Mayor Pro Tem failed (3-4), and Councilmember Ben Van Dyke's nomination succeeded (4-3). City Clerk Selestina Sandoval administered oaths of office.

Presentations

• Grand Junction Housing Authority CEO Scott Aker and Board Chair Krista Ubersox presented the annual report, highlighting 51 years of service, nearly 800 affordable apartments, over 1,200 vouchers, and a waitlist of approximately 2,500. In 2025, the authority contributed 69% of the unit count to Proposition 123 and completed 10 independent audits with successful outcomes.

Proclamations

• Councilmember Cody Kennedy proclaimed May 4–8, 2026 as Teacher Appreciation Week; D51 Foundation Executive Director Angela Christensen accepted.
• Councilmember Ben Van Dyke proclaimed May 11–16, 2026 as National Police Week; Police Chief Matt Smith accepted, noting 27,355 line-of-duty deaths since 1786 and 36 deaths in 2026 as of April.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Theresa Cambron: Raised concerns about carbon monoxide exposure and drug activity in her apartment, criticizing the Housing Authority for charging for asbestos removal.
• Ryan Serod (Mesa County Noxious Weed and Pest Department): Requested stronger city cooperation on Japanese beetle eradication, noting 90% of captures are within city jurisdiction; 5,700 adults caught in 2023, 1,500 in 2024.
• Joan Bradley: Described mallard ducklings dying at the 26th Road bridge over Grand Valley Canal.
• Brian Luoma (Green Latinos): Invited council to a Take on Toxics tour and announced release of the Mesa County Environmental Justice Report.
• Dennis Simpson: Criticized the city's community satisfaction survey as not statistically valid and questioned consultant costs.
• Ed Kowalski: Expressed concerns about violence against children.
• Kristen Seidel (Mutual Aid Partners, Grand Valley Coalition for the Homeless): Thanked council for attending PLE meetings and highlighted a cleanup that removed 6,700 pounds of trash from river camps after dumpsters were placed.
• Stephania Vasconez (Mutual Aid Partners): Shared a personal story of homelessness and the importance of lived-experience voices.
• Kia Young (CMU social work intern): Relayed feedback from unhoused neighbors about shelter closure impacts and resource gaps, quoting a person who wakes up at 4:30 AM for temp work and misses shower access.
• Crystal Frost: Thanked Sunshine Community for housing assistance and proposed "accountability through opportunity" – fund beds for the willing, and arrest those who refuse services.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the consent agenda (items 1–4 and resolutions except 5.a) unanimously by voice vote. Items included:
  • Approval of minutes from April 13 workshop, April 15 regular meeting, and April 15 executive session.
  • Setting public hearings for May 20, 2026 on: supplemental appropriation, Zoning and Development Code amendments (final plat recordation, ADUs, design standards, landscape substitutions, natural hazards, signs, outdoor lighting), drive-through facilities, comprehensive plan amendment for 19.83 acres at 860 21 Road, rezoning to RL-5, right-of-way vacation, lease amendment for Monument Business Park, and annexation of 1.59 acres (hearing June 17).
  • Continuing the impact fee refund ordinance hearing to June 3, 2026.
  • Procurement contracts: resurfacing 12 Canyon View tennis courts, final phase LED lighting conversion, Riverside Parkway street maintenance.

Discussion Items

• Resolution to Ban Sale or Trade of Fireworks (Item 5.a): Moved from consent. City Manager Mike Bennett and Fire Chief Peter Skeris presented drought data: 114 red flag warning days in 2026 vs. 15 total in 2025, snowpack at 23% of normal in Colorado headwaters, and NOAA predicting drought persistence through July. Inspections for permitted sales require ~252 hours. Council debated tabling until June 3 vs. immediate adoption. Councilmember Kennedy motion to table failed (3-4). Councilmember Stout motion to adopt passed (4-3). Public comment included Britton Cottrell (TNT Fireworks) warning that a ban would drive illegal online sales, and George Gatseos encouraging enforcement. The resolution was adopted.
• Reconsideration of City-Owned Land Inclusion for Camelback Gardens (Item 6.a): Principal Planner Daniella Acosta Stine presented. The resolution would allow 15 acres of city-owned open space to be included in the Planned Development boundary to lower density from 8.75 du/ac to 3.6 du/ac, avoiding a 34-unit reduction. Council heard public comment from opponents (Rich Beauheim, George Gatseos, Chris Macanan, Theresa Edwards) arguing the open space dedication predated the current developer and the process bypassed proper rezoning. Developer Mike Stubbs argued the land was dedicated for the overall ridges cluster development. After discussion, Councilmember Kennedy motion to repeal Resolution 13-26 passed 5-2 (Nguyen and Beilfuss against), citing lack of public process and potential legal challenges.

Key Outcomes

• Fireworks Ban: Adopted Resolution No. 39-26, banning the sale, exchange, barter, or trade of fireworks effective immediately until restrictions are lifted. Vote: 4-3 (Stout, Nguyen, Beilfuss, Lutz yes; Kennedy, Ballard, Van Dyke no).
• Camelback Gardens Resolution: Repealed Resolution 13-26, removing city-owned open space from the development boundary. Vote: 5-2 (Kennedy, Van Dyke, Stout, Lutz, Ballard yes; Nguyen, Beilfuss no).
• Councilmember Stout requested a future workshop or memo regarding city coordination on Japanese beetle eradication.
• Meeting adjourned at 8:53 PM.