April Mayor's Minute
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Hello neighbors, Below are highlights from last month's Town Council and some upcoming topics for this week's meeting. As always, I hope you can join us for tomorrow’s meeting or consider sharing your feedback with us about any of these matters. March 21 Meeting Highlights:
- Town Council discussed whether a dismount zone is necessary for the Village Center plazas. Over the past few years, there has been an increasing number of incidents between bicycles and pedestrians in the Village Center. Bikes are and will continue to be an essential part of all our lives whether we are using them to commute, exercise, or just to have fun; however, with the upcoming expansion of the bike park and summer use of Lift 4 for bike park access, some changes to how or where bikes can travel will need to be made. We have been examining tactics used to reduce negative bike/pedestrian interactions in other communities such as Fort Collins and Durango. With help from our Parks and Recreation team, Police Department, local bike shops, and others, we are working to craft a plan that balances the needs of our residents, guests, pedestrians, bicyclists, and merchants.
- We discussed proposed amendments to our Community Development Code (CDC) Residential Lighting Regulations. As we review and amend these regulations, we are striving to strike the balance between our need for residential outdoor illumination that allows us to enjoy our homes while minimizing unintended negative impacts to neighbors and the surrounding community.
- Town Council discussed the two incentive programs dedicated to helping homeowners reduce their home’s risk of fire. The Wildfire Mitigation Incentive Program helps owners protect their home and surrounding areas from an approaching wildfire by landscaping the area around a home in a manner that reduces fire hazard. The Cedar Shake Fire Mitigation Incentive Program waives all town building fees when a cedar shake roof is replaced with a new, fire-proof roof. Council asked for improvements and expansion of the Cedar Shake program that will make participating simpler, quicker, and available to more households. We hope these changes will encourage increased participation and a safer community.
- Town Council appointed five members to the Design Review Board (DRB): Liz Caton, Greer Garner, David Eckman, Cath Jett, and Ellen Kramer. The DRB functions as the town’s architectural review board and as the Planning and Zoning Advisory Board. On behalf of the town, I want to thank outgoing DRB members Phil Evans and Jean Vetter for their years of service and commitment.
- Lastly, Town Council approved renaming the Village Court Apartments Community Garden as the “Michael Ruterbories Memorial Community Garden”. Michael, a longtime Mountain Village resident, gondola operator, and cherished friend to all who knew him, passed away unexpectedly in February. He is greatly missed by the Town of Mountain Village and the community he adopted.
- Town Council will officially set the date of June 25, 2019, for the Mountain Village Election to elect four Town Council members. Candidates must be a registered elector with legal residency within Mountain Village for at least 120 days immediately preceding the election. If you are interested in running, submit a letter of intent and candidate biographical information sheet to the Town Clerk’s email no later than 5 p.m. on May 10.
- Town Council will consider, on first reading, an ordinance to implement a pedestrian-only zone in the Village Center plazas requiring dismounting and walking for bicycles, skateboards, and similar devices. If approved, the pedestrian-only zone will go into effect this summer.
- The Green Team will provide its quarterly report and provide for consideration a Voluntary Single-Use Plastics Reduction Initiative. The proposed initiative calls for grocers, lodgers, restaurants, and merchants to voluntarily ban certain single-use plastics in an effort to reduce solid waste and protect the environment.
- Town Council will consider approval of a density transfer and rezone for the expansion area of Elkstone on Lot 600A. The proposed expansion area is located adjacent to Elk Pond, off Mountain Village Boulevard. If approved, the density would be increased by six-person equivalents.
- As a result of density changes at the Ridge project, we will consider revisions to the Settlement Agreement resolving litigation related to 161CR and Ridge at Telluride.
- Town of Telluride Public Works Environmental and Engineering Division Manager Karen Guglielmone will present an update on the Telluride Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant Master Plan and key milestones for 2018 and 2019. Topics to be discussed include: sequencing next steps and potential costs for budgeting of the Master Plan implementation through 2030; clarifying a future site; and potentially creating a new sewer district.
- Town Council will consider the formation, bylaw adoption, and appointment of members to the Plaza Vending and Business Development Advisory Committees.
- Lastly, the Telluride Historical Museum and San Miguel Watershed Coalition will provide their annual reports.
