Grand Junction City Council Regular Meeting - June 3, 2026

The Grand Junction City Council convened on June 3, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. at the City Hall Auditorium. Council President Laurel Lutz presided. All seven councilmembers were present. The meeting included consent agenda approval, public comments, staff reports, and three legislative public hearings on development impact fees, camping enforcement, and riverfront trail rules. The meeting adjourned at 10:11 p.m.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Minutes: Summary of May 18, 2026 Workshop and May 20, 2026 Regular Meeting approved.
• Set Public Hearings: Resolution to set a hearing for the Bennett Annexation of 18.96 acres (south end of 23 Road) on July 15, 2026, approved.
• Procurements: 2026 purchase of 3/8" aggregate chips for chip seal program; sole source procurement of Fire Rover fire detection/suppression system for the Material Recovery Facility.
• Resolutions: Resolution adjusting parking citation escalation schedule; resolution supporting grant application for 22 Road Railroad Crossing / West Side Safety Improvements Project.
• Consent agenda adopted by unanimous voice vote (7-0).

Public Comments & Testimony

General Public Comments (non-agenda):

• Tammy Powers expressed appreciation for the community and police ice cream event.
• Ed Kowalski spoke about representing vulnerable populations and community unity.

Public Hearings – Development Impact Fees (Item 5.a.i):

• Speakers included Stephanie Dedduang, Virginia Brown, David Hancock (HBA president), Bill Findlay, Nancy Strippel (Parks & Rec Advisory Board chair), Kevin Bray, Keith Ehlers, and Diane Schwenke. Positions varied: some opposed reducing park impact fees, citing need for parks and environmental costs; others urged a lower fee to reduce housing costs and argued the maximum fee was not needs-based.

Public Hearings – Camping Ordinance (Item 5.a.ii):

• Approximately 30 speakers, including Mark Berkley, Lindsey Weaver, Christina Hoagland, Diane Bermingham, Carol Rasmussen, Max Winfield, Shi Vinlaskey, Jason Jolly, Sammy Winberg, Sam Doctor, Andy and Andrea Hamilton, Frank Young, Stephanie Dedduang, Doug Shake, Ruth Kinnett, Lisa Fry, Donald Hunger, Reverend Nicole Campbell, Stephania Vasconez, Kristen Seidel, Kia Young, Levi Lavery, Kevin Cole, Dealvia Messina, Diana Tap, Bishop Walden, Madeline, Austin Garrett, Makayla Vigil, and David Stuart. Most speakers opposed removing the shelter-availability exception, arguing it would criminalize homelessness, harm vulnerable people, and waste resources. A few speakers supported the change, citing public safety, environmental damage, and fire risks.

Public Hearings – Riverfront Trail Rules (Item 5.a.iii):

• No public comment.

Discussion Items

City Manager Report

• City Manager Mike Bennett introduced two new online dashboards: a Budget Dashboard and a Strategic Framework Dashboard, launched on the city website to improve transparency and public access to financial and strategic plan data.

Boards and Commission Liaison Reports

• Councilmember Beilfuss: Business Incubator 40th Anniversary (June 4); Historic Preservation; Grand Valley Transit Board; Juneteenth Celebration (June 20).
• Councilmember Kennedy: Museums of the West.
• Councilmember Van Dyke: Business Incubator celebration; ribbon-cutting for new play area (June 24).
• Councilmember Stout: Colorado Municipal League conference (June 22–25); upcoming Parks and Rec Advisory Board and Forestry Board meetings.
• Council President Lutz: Commission on Arts and Culture update; arts exchange program with Ito City, Japan.

Ordinance Amending Development Impact Fees (5.a.i)

• Presentation by Community Development Director Tamra Allen on proposed amendments to Section 21.02.070 regarding impact fee study timing, park land acquisition fee (reducing to 75% of maximum supportable via '3B' option), fee offset clarifications, and refunds for fees paid since January 1, 2026. The Planning Commission had recommended approval. Council debated the appropriate fee level, with some members favoring further reduction to help housing affordability and others supporting the compromise reached through workshops. Councilmember Kennedy moved to adopt at 75% of the maximum supportable park land acquisition fee. Motion passed 4-3 (Stout, Nguyen, Beilfuss voting no).

Ordinance Amending Camping Enforcement (5.a.ii)

• Presentation by Interim City Attorney Jeremiah Boies, Police Chief Matt Smith, and City Manager Bennett. The existing ordinance (2019) included an exception prohibiting enforcement when no overnight shelter was available, based on then-case law (Martin v. Boise). The US Supreme Court's 2024 Grants Pass decision overturned that precedent. The proposed ordinance removes the shelter-availability exception to allow enforcement regardless of shelter availability. Council discussed public safety, environmental concerns (fire, contamination), resource constraints, and the impact on unhoused individuals. Chief Smith described the current process: outreach, notice, and contracted cleanups (119 tons removed 2022–2025). Councilmember Van Dyke moved to adopt. Motion passed 5-2 (Nguyen and Beilfuss voting no).

Ordinance Renewing Riverfront Trail Rules (5.a.iii)

• Presentation by Parks and Recreation Director Ken Sherbenou. The rules had expired; renewal updates them to align with 2024 park rules. Parks and Rec Advisory Board recommended approval. Motion passed unanimously (7-0).

Non-Scheduled Comments

• Stephania Vasconez and Kristen Seidel from Mesa County Collaboration for the Unhoused (MCCUH) read a letter urging the city to fund supportive services and continue compassionate, coordinated responses alongside enforcement. Councilmember Stout committed to reviewing funding for homeless services to better assist providers.

Key Outcomes

• Impact Fee Ordinance (No. 5325): Adopted 4-3. Parks land acquisition/open space fee set at 75% of maximum supportable amount per revised TischlerBise study. Refunds authorized for difference between fees collected since Jan. 1, 2026 and new schedule.
• Camping Ordinance (No. 5326): Adopted 5-2. Removed requirement that no overnight shelter be available before enforcing camping prohibitions on public property.
• Riverfront Trail Rules (No. 5327): Adopted 7-0. Rules renewed and amended to align with park rules.
• Next Steps: Implementation of impact fee refunds; continued outreach and enforcement planning for camping ordinance with 30-day delay; ongoing conversations with service providers and stakeholders on homelessness solutions.