Grand Junction City Council Meeting – September 2, 2026

The Grand Junction City Council met on September 2, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. The meeting included a presentation on the 2026 Community Satisfaction Survey, a proclamation for Grand Junction PRIDE Week, appointments to the Housing Authority, public comments, consent agenda approvals, and a lengthy public hearing on an ordinance to amend the Zoning and Development Code regarding preservation of significant trees. The council voted 4-3 to adopt Ordinance No. 5340, which removes the significant tree preservation requirements, and directed staff to develop an incentive-based program.

Presentations

• 2026 Community Satisfaction Survey Results: RRC Associates presented the survey, which was mailed to 5,400 households and received an 16% response rate (over 880 responses). Key findings:
  • 53% of residents said Grand Junction is going in the right direction (down from 60% in 2022); 29% said wrong direction (up from 22%).
  • Top priorities: sustainably managing resources (84%), public safety, homelessness.
  • Satisfaction with city services overall rated 3.6 out of 5.
  • Top parks and rec priorities: expand trails, improve river access, address Orchard Mesa Pool.
  • Regarding Orchard Mesa Pool: 38% favor increasing taxes/debt, 43% oppose, 66% favor putting a ballot question.

Proclamations

• Proclaimed September 4–6, 2026, as Grand Junction PRIDE Week. The proclamation was accepted by Colorado West Pride representatives.

Appointments

• Appointed Randall Reitz to the Grand Junction Housing Authority for a full term expiring October 31, 2031. Motion passed unanimously (6-0).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Dave Lord: Requested that a cleanup area at Matchett Park (50+ acres east of Indian Wash) be named "Hershey's Loop" after his dog, citing extensive volunteer cleanup over three years.
• Ed Kowalski: Spoke about optimism and the American dream.
• Vicky Vaughn: Expressed opposition to the planned closure and relocation of Cross Orchards, stating the historical buildings must be preserved and that the community was under-informed.
• Public Hearing on Significant Trees: Testimony from 12 speakers:
  • Ray Pilcher, Jim Marshall (chair of Cleantech Business Coalition), Mollie Frelischer (chair of Grand Junction Forestry Board), Tom Ziola (former city forester), Tom McCloskey, Kammie Long (Forestry Board member), Michael Kotee, Caymon Haltiner, and Jane Quimby (developer) urged the council to retain or improve the ordinance, citing tree benefits, community support, and the need for a collaborative process.
  • Keith Ehlers, Hogan Pederson, Diane Schwenke urged repeal, arguing the ordinance is ineffective, creates perverse incentives (clearing lots before applying), and is an unfunded mandate.

Consent Calendar

• Approved Items 1–4 (minutes, setting public hearings, procurement of two recycling trucks, resolutions) with the exception of Item 4a, removed for discussion. Motion carried unanimously.
• Item 4a: Resolution supporting a Bureau of Reclamation grant for the Juniata Enlarged Ditch Piping Project. Approved unanimously.

Discussion Items

• Public Hearing – Ordinance to Remove Significant Tree Preservation (Ordinance No. 5340):
  • Zoning Supervisor Tim Lehrbach presented staff analysis, finding the proposed removal inconsistent with the Comprehensive Plan and code standards, and recommended denial. Planning Commission had recommended approval (5-2) adopting the Housing Affordability Code Task Force recommendation.
  • Housing Affordability Code Task Force Co-chair Kevin Bray presented in favor of repeal, arguing the ordinance is ineffective (only one tree preserved in three years), creates perverse incentives (lot clearing), unfairly burdens property owners, and does not address housing affordability. He urged repeal with a future non-punitive incentive program.
  • Council debate included:
    • Councilmember Stout and Beilfuss expressed concerns about removing the code without a replacement, citing tree canopy benefits and lack of community engagement. Stout advocated for a workshop with the Forestry Board and other stakeholders.
    • Councilmembers Kennedy, Ballard, Lutz, and Van Dyke supported repeal, arguing the current code fails to save trees, incentivizes clearing, and is a property rights issue. Kennedy raised Fifth Amendment takings concerns. Lutz emphasized stopping the "bleeding" now and developing an incentive program.
    • Councilmember Nguyen noted the difficulty of choosing between competing values (trees vs. housing) and questioned whether repeal alone would reduce costs.
  • Council took a break from 7:54 p.m. to 8:09 p.m.
  • Public hearing closed at 8:39 p.m.

Key Outcomes

• Vote on Ordinance No. 5340: Passed 4-3 (Ballard, Kennedy, Lutz, Van Dyke in favor; Beilfuss, Nguyen, Stout opposed). The ordinance removes Sections §21.07.040 and §21.09.060(a)(1) of the Zoning and Development Code regarding preservation of significant trees, and orders publication in pamphlet form.
• Directive to Staff: Council gave direction to staff to move forward with drafting an incentive program for significant trees, and to explore incorporating this into the current consultant contract for code simplification (expected completion by first quarter of 2027). Council also requested a review of definitions for council liaisons to clarify their roles on boards and commissions.