Speaker numbers apply only to this recording. Names come from transcript evidence. “Possibly” marks uncertain attribution.
The Grand Junction City Council held a regular meeting on June 17, 2026, at 5:30 PM. The meeting began with proclamations for Juneteenth and National Peace Corps Volunteers, followed by an appointment to the Downtown Development Authority Business Improvement District. Public comments addressed traffic safety, community values, and equitable distribution of park amenities. The city manager reported strong May revenue figures. The council then considered the consent agenda, removing one item on animal code revision for future discussion, and approved the remaining routine items. The meeting adjourned at 6:16 PM.
How do we give us a h do we give us a hug Good evening, everyone. We are going to go ahead and get seated so we could start our meeting. Today is Wednesday, June seventeenth, and uh this is the regular meeting of the city council. We are now in order. Um we will be starting with a pledge of allegiance, followed by a moment of silence. The first is a proclamation, uh, proclaiming June nineteenth, twenty twenty-six as Juneteenth in the city of Grand Junction. David Combs is uh here to accept the proclamation, and that will be read by Council Member Bielfess. Thank you, Mayor. A proclamation is David here. Yeah, he's uh whereas President Adam Abraham Lincoln signed the emancipation proclamation on January 1st, 1863, declaring the slaves in Confederate territory free, paving the way for passing of the Thirteenth Amendment, which formally abolished slavery in the United States of America. And whereas word about the signing of the emancipation proclamation was delayed for some two and a half years to June 19th, 1865, in reaching authorities and African Americans, specifically in Texas and Southwestern United States, and whereas Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration commemorating the abolition of slavery and the emancipation of African American slaves in the United States and continues to grow within communities throughout the country, including including Mesa County, and whereas there are organizations in the Grand Valley, such as Black Citizens and Friends promoting and cultivating knowledge and appreciation of African American history and culture while encouraging equity and respect for all people and cultures. And whereas the City of Grand Junction is an inclusive community that encourages a diversity of cultural opportunities. And whereas Black Citizens and Friends is hosting a Juneteenth celebration on Saturday, June 20th, 2026 in Lincoln Park from 2 30 to 5 30. Now, therefore, on behalf of this Grand Junction City Council and the community members of Grand Junction, we recognize June 19th, 2026 as Juneteenth in the City of Grand Junction, acknowledging its significance and encouraging our community to join in the celebration of African American history. David Combs, it's all yours. Thanks for being here. Thank you very much. Thank you, Madam Mayor and Honorable Councilman. This year's theme for our celebration is truth and freedom. And it's our it's very ironic that uh that is a theme for these times. Uh without truth, there can't be any freedom, and without freedom, there's no truth. We always want to thank you for being a part of our celebration. And you typically kick it off with your proclamation. You follow that up with uh one of you representing the city council at our Juneteenth celebration, and again, we thank you for that. Uh it's pretty poignant that uh we're doing this celebration uh in these times. But it's difficult for truth to be told, and it's also difficult for there be for there to be freedom behind the truth. Uh, we look at it uh from a national level from a uh state level and even at a local level. Uh people are are searching for the truth. Uh the irony is uh the slaves in Texas uh weren't made aware of the truth until uh two and a half years after uh the emancipation proclamation. Uh myself, I wasn't even made aware of Juneteenth until the age of 15, and I look at that as uh uh somewhat of a not necessarily a crime, but uh an injustice. Uh I just want to close by thanking you again. Uh we look forward to seeing you. I have uh just one other item to add to our Juneteenth celebration. Uh we we always use a message, and even our vendors, we have no vendors that sell anything. Our vendors are there to provide uh information to those who attend. Um this year we're taking donations not only from vendors but also from anyone that attends. Uh donations of non-perishable food items that we shall donate to the food bank of the Rockies. So again, I want to thank you for the recognition. Thank you so much, and I'm looking forward to attending on Saturday, so it'll be a be a great day. Next, we do have a proclamation honoring National Peace Corps volunteers in the city of Grand Junction, um, and we have Peace Corps volunteers here who will be accepting the proclamation, and um that will be read by Councilmember Stout. City of Grand Junction, State of Colorado proclamation. Whereas the Peace Corps has become an enduring symbol of our nation's commitment to encourage progress, create opportunity, and expand development at the grassroots level in the developing world. And whereas since its establishment over 61 years ago, more than 240,000 Americans and dozens from Mesa County have served as Peace Corps volunteers and trainees in 104 30, 143 countries worldwide. And whereas Peace Corps volunteers have made significant and lasting contributions around the world in agriculture, food security, business, and civil society development, information technology, education, health and HIV AIDS, care and prevention, youth and community development, and the environment, and have improved the lives of individuals and communities around the world.