June Mayor's Minute

Hello neighbors, Below are some Town Council meeting highlights from last month and some upcoming topics. As always, I hope you can join us for tomorrow’s meeting or consider sharing your feedback with us about any of these matters. Quick reminder: Election Day is June 25. All ballots must be received either by mail or in person to Town Hall by 7 p.m. on June 25. On Election Day, the polling place at Town Hall will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Please contact the Town Clerk’s office at (970)369-6406 or via for any questions. May 16 Meeting Highlights:

• As part of our annual budgeting process, we held a work session last month to establish and refine the budget goals for projects, programs, and infrastructure in 2020, as the Finance Committee and Finance Department draft the 2020 budget. The following goals were proposed:
  • Maintain town reserves at or above the 35% and continue to pay down debt when feasible.
  • Forecast sales tax revenue growth conservatively at 4% in anticipation of the expected impact of the Gallagher Amendment on residential property valuation and a projected flat forecast in property tax revenue.
  • Maintain town infrastructure to a high standard of repair and condition, including trails and necessary improvements for safe pedestrian and bike travel in Mountain Village.
  • Continue to plan for the financial impact of the wastewater treatment plant upgrade and expansion. This includes a potential increase of 5-10% to the town water and sewer utility customer rates.
  • Complete the major upgrade of our Broadband network infrastructure that will allow us to offer improved 1G fiber services to every home. Engineering, design, and initial construction began this year; the project is estimated to be completed by the end of 2020.
  • Implement a cybersecurity plan to be developed from the 2018 consulting study.
  • Complete expansion of Village Court Apartments.
  • Increase available grant funds from $130,000 to $150,000 annually.
  • Address the Public Works Department’s need for expansion and improvement of the town shops.
• We voted to approve on first reading an ordinance amending our Community Development Code (CDC) residential lighting regulations. These proposed changes are being considered to better balance our need for residential outdoor illumination that allows us to enjoy our homes while minimizing unintended negative impacts to neighbors and the surrounding community. There will be a public hearing and second vote on the lighting regulations at this week’s meeting.
• We voted to approve a density transfer and rezone for the expansion area of Elkstone on Lot 600A, an increase of two condominium units and six person-equivalents of density. One of the conditions of approval was the new project must allow for the future construction and use of the Elk Pond Loop Trail, as envisioned in the Town of Mountain Village Trails Master Plan.
• Town Council appointed Adam Miller to the Design Review Board (DRB) to fill the seat recently vacated by Luke Trujillo.
• Last month was outgoing Council Member Dan Jansen’s last meeting. Town Council thanked Dan for his eight years on Town Council, four years serving as Mayor. His energy, commitment, and service to our community will be greatly missed.
• Lastly, the Telluride Tourism Board, Colorado Flights Alliance, and Gondola Subcommittee provided their quarterly reports.

If you would like more specifics about any of these topics, you can watch a video of last month’s meeting on the town’s website. May’s meeting minutes will be posted online after they are approved at tomorrow’s meeting. June 13 Agenda Topics

• Town Council will consider authorizing of the sale of two deed-restricted units at Cassidy Ridge and Castellina. One unit will be sold to a Town of Mountain Village employee and the other unit will be sold to a long-time employee within the Mountain Village.
• There will be a public hearing and second vote on an amendment to the CDC to allow for staff-level review instead of DRB review of roof repair and replacement applications using synthetic roof materials. This change should streamline and ease the process for property owners interested in replacing the cedar shake shingles with more fire-resistant materials as part of the Cedar Shake Incentive Fire Mitigation Program.
• We will publicly thank and present Town Council Member Bruce MacIntire with a Service Award in gratitude for his four years of service on Town Council. During his term, Bruce served on the Town Hall and Village Center Subarea, Telluride Conference Center, Green Team and Parking and Transportation Committees. If you can, please join us to thank Bruce for his public service.
• Lastly, Bill Jensen will provide the Telluride Ski & Golf quarterly update.

A full packet and agenda have been posted on our website; we welcome your input and hope to see you at the meeting.

Warm regards,

Laila Benitez

Mountain Village Mayor