Grand Junction City Council Regular Meeting – August 5, 2026

The Grand Junction City Council met in regular session at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, in the City Hall Auditorium at 250 North 5th Street. Council President Laurel Lutz presided. Councilmembers Robert Ballard (virtual), Scott Beilfuss, Cody Kennedy, Jason Nguyen (virtual), and Ben Van Dyke were present; Councilmember Anna Stout was absent. City Manager Mike Bennett, Interim City Attorney Jeremiah Boies, and other staff were also present. The meeting included the 2025 audit presentation, a library anniversary proclamation, public comments, routine consent items, public hearings, resolutions, and a wastewater treatment plant contract. The meeting adjourned at 8:25 p.m.

Presentations and Proclamations

• Christina McCloud of Hanie & Company presented the 2025 Audit Report and answered questions. Hanie & Company issued its opinions on June 30, 2026, and reported no corrected or uncorrected misstatements, no material weaknesses, and clean opinions on the financial statements and major federal award compliance. On a full-accrual, government-wide basis, the city reported total assets of $1.4 billion and deferred outflows of $11 million, offset by liabilities of $273 million and deferred inflows, for total net position of $1.3 billion. Combined net position increased by about $38 million. Sales tax revenue increased by about $3.1 million, or 4%, over the prior year, while total expenses increased about 6.2%. Governmental funds reported a total fund balance of $153.5 million, and governmental fund expenditures exceeded revenues by approximately $20.4 million, largely because of planned capital spending. Proprietary funds reported $82.4 million in net position, with operating revenues of $24 million and operating expenses of $23.3 million. City Manager Bennett thanked the finance department, including Deputy Finance Director Brandon Hinsey and Controller Kelly Yeager.
• Councilmember Beilfuss read a proclamation recognizing July 25, 2026, as Mesa County Libraries 125th Anniversary. Executive Director Michelle Boisvenue-Fox accepted the proclamation and noted that Grand Junction's first library was the first Carnegie Library in Colorado and that Mesa County Libraries was a 2024 national medal finalist.

Consent Calendar

• Council adopted the Consent Agenda, Items 1–4, by a single 6–0 voice vote with no discussion or removed items. It approved: the July 13 workshop summary and July 15 regular and special executive session minutes; hearing dates for the Series 2026 Certificates of Participation ordinance and Solid Waste supplemental appropriation (August 19, 2026) and the significant tree preservation ordinance (September 2, 2026); an EMS billing, claims processing, and revenue cycle management contract with Systems Design West, LLC for the Fire Department; a construction contract for the 2026 Sanitary Sewer Replacement Project Phases 1 and 2; a resolution supporting the FY 2026–2027 Peace Officers Behavioral Health Support and Community Partnership Grant application; a resolution reinstating and amending the Infill and Redevelopment Program; and a resolution increasing the boot warrant fee.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Rhonda Bates asked that the November ballot question be written in language the general public can understand so residents know exactly what they would pay, and expressed appreciation for council's consideration of help for people experiencing homelessness through Catholic Outreach and the Joseph Center.
• Diana Tapp said a public official should not use personal discomfort to discourage a resident from attending meetings, and defended the First Amendment right to observe local government.
• Jesse Miltier reported that about two-thirds of survey respondents favored keeping Orchard Mesa Pool open and that council members expressed interest in funding it and placing it on the November ballot.
• Curtis Como and Steve Clark asked the city to install speed humps on Canyon Rim Drive. They cited increased traffic and speeding connected to Redlands 360, school pickup congestion near Wingate Elementary, and safety for children, bicyclists, and wildlife. Clark said the HOA board voted for the speed humps; Como said a neighborhood survey found over 80% support.
• Theresa Cambron raised personal safety and security concerns at her housing complex and said she would not allow an unsigned property management inspection entry.
• Lavetta Minsguard thanked the mayor, council, and city manager for listening to concerns about Orchard Mesa Pool and reported positive survey results.
• Ed Kowalski recounted a past downtown altercation, saying he had disarmed someone and hoped the incident served as a learning lesson.
• Mariann Taigman, from the Save the Pool Committee, thanked the city manager for putting the pool on the workshop agenda, noted her committee's own overwhelmingly positive survey, and asked for a joint meeting between the city and School District 51 (D51), public acknowledgement of whether the two entities are communicating, and clarity on whether the city will acquire the Orchard Mesa Pool and property.
• Alexa Saindon-Holdorf requested city support for the Postal Service food drive, reporting that this year's one-day drive collected 25,600 pounds for seven food banks and that her next goal is 40,000 pounds.
• Alyssa Miller-Hurley, speaking virtually on behalf of the Pet Advocacy Network on Title 6, argued that animal control challenges are operational rather than legislative, opposed expanded prohibited-species lists and arbitrary reptile size limits, and encouraged training, equipment, partnerships, and alignment with Colorado Parks and Wildlife regulations.
• Randall Reitz and Matt Speth spoke during the 7th/9th Street public hearing. Reitz called the plan an easy, low-controversy win, noted CMU work already underway, and asked council to fund engineering plans. Speth said safe connected infrastructure would benefit students who do not own cars and help retain CMU graduates in Grand Junction.

City Manager Report

• City Manager Mike Bennett had no formal report. He reminded the public that the city posts a comprehensive project and operations update on its website twice each month.

Boards and Commission Liaison Reports

• Councilmember Beilfuss highlighted Avalon Theatre Foundation activities, including a history talk by a 94-year-old benefactor and a fundraising premiere on August 14.
• Councilmember Kennedy reported on Museums of Western Colorado, noting the board made a difficult decision to consolidate sites under one roof and that the museum's leader, Sheena Hayden, spoke about a 13-year plan and continued service to the broader Colorado Plateau community.
• Councilmember Van Dyke reported on the Business Incubator Center's Apex Day on August 26 about government contracting, and on Downtown Development Authority discussions about future commercial development at the former StarTek facility on South 7th Street.
• Council President Lutz reported on the Commission on Arts and Culture, including a reconciliation of the 1% art fund and additional city investment in arts and culture beyond the required percentage.

Discussion Items

• Redlands 360 Planned Development Outline Development Plan Amendment (Ordinance No. 5335): Planning Manager Thomas Lloyd and applicant representative Jane Quimby presented the request to add approximately 29.08 acres to the Redlands 360 ODP approved by City Council in February 2022, bringing the total to about 629.08 acres, establish Planned Development zoning for the added parcels, and update bulk and outdoor lighting standards. Staff said the change does not increase the overall development cap, which remains at a minimum of 1,300 and maximum of 1,750 units, and that the new lighting standards would be lower than the general code, require fully shielded downward fixtures, and help preserve dark skies. The Planning Commission recommended approval 7–0. The public hearing opened and closed at 6:43 p.m. with no public comments. Council asked no questions before voting.
• Title 6 Animal Code Repeal and Reenactment (Ordinance No. 5336): Police Chief Matt Smith presented the revised code, noting the city assumed animal control on January 1, 2025, after Mesa County stopped providing the service. The ordinance centralizes pet licensing with the city, consolidates scattered provisions, clarifies enforcement, impoundment, and humane care, and preserves existing provisions such as Downtown event rules and People's Ordinance No. 30 (1956). Council discussed licensing fees that had gone to the county and the DocuPet registration system. The public hearing opened at 6:57 p.m. and closed at 7:01 p.m.; the Pet Advocacy Network comment is summarized above. Councilmember Ballard said he was initially concerned about restrictions beyond state rules but was more comfortable after staff explained that the revised code mostly restricts venomous animals capable of serious injury and crocodilians and allows larger snakes with registration. The council took a short break from 7:09 to 7:19 p.m. before the vote.
• Affordable Housing Land Sale Continuation: Council continued the public hearing for an ordinance authorizing a purchase and sale agreement for approximately 3.3 acres of city-owned property to Grand Junction Homes, LLC for affordable housing to August 14, 2026.
• Proposition 123 Affordable Housing Commitment (Resolution No. 69-26): Housing Supervisor Ashley Chambers presented the resolution authorizing the city manager to make a Proposition 123 commitment to increase affordable housing units by 3% for the 2027–2029 cycle. Using the revised methodology under House Bill 26-1313, the city's three-year unit goal is approximately 348 units. Chambers reported the city opted into the first cycle in August 2023, set a goal of 374 units, has so far counted 588 units, and has been one of the largest recipients of Prop 123 funding in the state. She said failing to make the new commitment would make the city and its projects ineligible for funding, but the development pipeline is likely to meet the new goal early in the cycle. Council President Lutz and Councilmembers Kennedy and Beilfuss discussed the commitment, and council thanked Chambers for her work on her final city presentation.
• Housing Action Plan Resolution: Council continued the public hearing for the resolution adopting the Housing Action Plan to September 16, 2026, to allow further discussion.
• 7th Street Active Transportation Facility Feasibility Study and 9th Street Alignment Memorandum (Resolution No. 71-26): Engineering and Transportation Director Trent Prall presented the study. The 2023 Pedestrian and Bicycle Plan identified 7th Street as a priority north-south route, and the 2024 feasibility study evaluated multimodal improvements. The original lane-reconfiguration concept drew community concern about vehicle capacity on a corridor carrying about 15,000 vehicles per day, so staff also evaluated a 9th Street alternative supported by planned Colorado Mesa University improvements, including moving the North Avenue traffic signal from 10th Street to 9th Street. The recommended concept includes a multi-use trail along portions of 7th Street and a 9th Street cycle track connecting to the riverfront trail. The resolution adopts the study and memorandum as planning documents, does not appropriate funds or authorize construction, and directs staff to use the recommendations in grant applications, preliminary engineering, and agency coordination. The public hearing opened at 8:10 p.m. and closed at 8:14 p.m. Councilmember Kennedy asked staff to work with East Middle School so new parking does not become a through route; Prall said the 9th Street alignment would act as a multimodal filter and that a meeting with the school district was planned for later in August.
• Persigo Wastewater Treatment Plant Phase 2 Expansion Design Contract: Interim Utilities Director Ashley Firl presented the request to contract with AE2S for planning, design, permitting, project management, CM/GC support, and construction-phase engineering for the Phase 2 Persigo expansion. Phase 1 is nearing completion and increased plant capacity from 12.5 to 15 million gallons per day. Phase 2 includes rehabilitating primary and secondary clarifiers and the raw sewage wet well, constructing new solids-handling components including anaerobic digesters and grease-waste receiving, evaluating renewable natural gas recovery expansion, and designing a medium-voltage distribution loop. Funding is included in the 2026 sewer enterprise fund budget. Councilmember Kennedy asked about a possible future phase and about capturing treated water for irrigation; Firl said phase three would be defined through future master planning and the water-capture idea could be examined separately.

Key Outcomes

• Adopted the Consent Agenda 6–0.
• Adopted Ordinance No. 5335 on final passage by a unanimous 6–0 roll call vote, amending the Redlands 360 ODP, adding 29.08 acres, establishing PD zoning, and updating bulk and lighting standards.
• Adopted Ordinance No. 5336 on final passage by a unanimous 6–0 roll call vote, repealing and reenacting Title 6 of the Grand Junction Municipal Code regarding animals.
• Continued the public hearing on the 3.3-acre affordable housing purchase and sale agreement to August 14, 2026, by a unanimous 6–0 vote.
• Adopted Resolution No. 69-26 by a unanimous 6–0 voice vote, authorizing the city manager to make the Proposition 123 commitment for approximately 348 affordable housing units in the 2027–2029 cycle.
• Continued the Housing Action Plan public hearing to September 16, 2026, by a unanimous 6–0 vote.
• Adopted Resolution No. 71-26 by a unanimous 6–0 voice vote, adopting the 7th Street Active Transportation Facility Feasibility Study and associated 9th Street Alignment Memorandum.
• Approved the AE2S professional engineering services contract for the Persigo Phase 2 expansion design in an amount not to exceed $4,343,538 by a unanimous 6–0 voice vote.
• No non-scheduled comments were offered. Council President Lutz reported that the city attorney recruitment posting is expected to go live in the coming week.