Speaker numbers apply only to this recording. Names come from transcript evidence. “Possibly” marks uncertain attribution.
The Grand Junction City Council met in regular session on Wednesday, September 16, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. in the City Hall Auditorium, 250 North 5th Street. Councilmembers present were Robert Ballard (virtual), Scott Beilfuss, Cody Kennedy, Jason Nguyen, Ben Van Dyke, and Council President Laurel Lutz; Councilmember Anna Stout was absent. The meeting included presentations, a proclamation, public comment, a consent agenda, and public hearings on zoning, appropriations, housing policy, and the Juniper Grove affordable housing project. The meeting adjourned at 8:39 p.m.
Good evening. It is five thirty on Wednesday, September sixteenth, and we will call to order our city council meeting, regular meeting. And uh we are starting with some uh first we will do a call. Oh my goodness. Okay, I'm gonna reset and start again. Yes, we're doing it right now. We're gonna stand for the Pledge of Allegiance at a moment of silence. I apologize. Um I'm not sure that I should read all of this piece, but um, we'll invite you up to the to the podium. Good evening, Mayor Lutz and and council. Thank you so much for giving us a few minutes here tonight. As the mayor mentioned, I'm Candace Carnahan, president and CEO at the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce. And the first thing I'm here to do tonight is to recognize Mayor Lutz for being one of this year's best slope next gen honorees. Thank you, Councilman Kennedy. Very nice. Uh our best slope next gen awards were created to recognize young professionals who are not simply building successful careers, but are who also using their leadership talents and energy to make a lasting impact on Western Colorado. It's our fourth year of these awards, and during that time, we've recognized more than 80 leaders who have emerged across the Western slope and are already making an impact. The chamber is really prioritizing young professionals because the future strength of our business community depends on our ability to develop, connect, and retain the next generation of leaders. We want talented people to see Western Colorado as a place where they can build meaningful careers, influence their community, and create a future for themselves. Recognizing commute uh contributions like Mayor Lutz helps ensure that they know your their leadership is valued and that there is a place for them at the table today and are part of our region's future. Mayor Letz's impact extends well beyond her service in elected office. She steps forward to serve our community while also leading Habitat for Humanity. In both of these roles, you've demonstrated a deep commitment to strengthening our community and expanding opportunity and helping ensure more people have a place to call home. Your leadership and willingness to give your time and talents to this community make you very deserving member of this year's class. And we were sad to miss you at our official ceremony because you were in fact here representing your community that evening. So it is my pleasure to officially present you with your best slope next gen 2026 honorary award and congratulations. Thank you. Absolutely. Second tonight, you know, as we recognize our community leaders, it's fitting that we also take a moment to talk about how we're developing the next generation of leaders and business owners. Tonight I want to thank the city of Grand Junction for 10 years of support and investment in the chamber's young entrepreneur academy, or what we affectionately call Yay. Yay gives middle and high school students the opportunity to experience what is truly takes to be an entrepreneur. Students begin the program with an idea, and over the course of the program, and I have to commend our youth. It is three hours a week every week, starting the first week of January, all the way through May. And this year we're excited because we have worked with D51 to offer elective credit for this program. They go through market research, develop a business plan, build a brand, create financial projections, pitch to investors, and they launch their businesses. They graduate with a fully operational business of their own. Since the program began, do I do anything to show these slides? Sorry. I don't know if that's a button. Thank you so much for the assist there. Since the program began in 2013, more than 110 new businesses have been created through this program, many of them still operating today. And over 75,000 in startup capital has been invested to these students and their businesses. The numbers are impressive, but the impact goes well beyond those businesses. And tonight I wanted you to hear directly from one of our students. Help me welcome up Rome Baldwin, who is this year's Saunders Scholar, an honor he earned through our local investor panel, and that recognition gave him the opportunity to represent the entire state of Colorado at the national competition this past June. He is also already building what may very well become a snack empire through the business he created. So I would like to welcome up Roan to say a few words. Hi, my name is Roan Baldwin. I'm 12 years old, and I have the business Munch Mode Machines.