The Alamosa City Council approved a $1.2 million federal grant for outdoor recreation programs and authorized up to $10,000 for public education about renewing the city’s street sales tax at their January 21 meeting. The council also purchased a $6,800 sculpture by local artist Kyle Cunniff and appointed 12 members to the Citizens Street Advisory Committee, leaving three positions unfilled including the youth representative. The Generation Wild grant will fund outdoor recreation initiatives from 2026 through 2030, while the street tax education campaign prepares voters for a November 2026 renewal vote on the dedicated funding that has generated $19 million since 2019.
Generation Wild Grant Approved
Council unanimously passed Ordinance 1-2026 approving an intergovernmental agreement for the Great Outdoors Colorado Trust Fund Generation Wild program. The $1.2 million grant involves multiple San Luis Valley governmental entities partnering with Alamosa to implement outdoor recreation programs through 2030.
The agreement represents significant federal funding for community outdoor recreation initiatives over the five-year period.
Street Tax Education Campaign Funded
The council authorized spending up to $10,000 to educate voters about the dedicated street sales tax renewal. The campaign budget includes $5,000 for hard costs and $5,000 for staff time tracking.
The current half-cent sales tax approved by voters in 2019 sunsets in 2029. The tax has generated $19 million since implementation and funded repairs on 16 of 80 identified priority streets. Street repair costs have increased from $300,000 per block in 2019 to $540,000 per block currently, with 64 streets still needing repairs.
Council plans to place the renewal question before voters in November 2026.
Art Purchase Selected
Council selected “Whimsical Heart” by Kyle Cunniff for $6,800 from the city’s Artscape public art program. The sculpture will join the city’s permanent collection of 25 art pieces displayed downtown.
The purchase drew from $10,000 available through a $6,000 carryover from the 2024 budget and $4,000 from 2025 funds. The city receives a 20 percent commission on all Artscape pieces, reducing the original price.
The selection differed from recommendations by Alamosa Creates and the People’s Choice Award. Alamosa Creates recommended “Ladder to the Moon” by Jodie Bliss ($7,680 after commission), “Cloud 9” by Justin Deister ($4,480), and “Eternal Echoes” by Charlotte Zink ($6,400). Voters selected “Ladder to the Moon” as the People’s Choice winner.
Street Committee Appointments
The council appointed 12 members to the re-established Citizens Street Advisory Committee following public interviews with applicants. Councilors said they were impressed with all applicants and noted their active engagement in community boards and commissions.
The 15-member committee will advise council on establishing a priority list of streets for the dedicated sales tax funding. Three positions remain unfilled, including the youth representative, and some ward or at-large positions. The committee includes residents from each ward, at-large members, representatives from major employers, an Alamosa County designee, and an Alamosa School District bus driver representative.
Mayor Pro Tem Reappointed
Council reappointed Liz Hensley as Mayor Pro Tem following discussion about scheduling challenges and personal considerations affecting councilors’ availability. Council members discussed capacity limitations and family obligations when considering the appointment.
Alamosa Creates Seeks State Certification
Alamosa Creates reported on its progress toward becoming a state-certified creative district in 2026. Committee Chair Lattice Feliciano said the committee held five community engagement sessions in 2025 at locations including Adams State University, Boys and Girls Club, and City Hall, averaging 17 attendees per session.
The committee met with Christy Costello from Colorado Creative Industries in March 2025. Costello advised completing the community engagement plan before applying for certification. The committee launched the Arts Festival in Alamosa and a community input survey for public feedback.
Dawn Krebs serves as the council representative to Alamosa Creates. Councilor Liz Hensley thanked the committee for their work, saying it exceeded expectations.
Resident Raises Homeless Deaths
A resident testified during citizen comment about two exposure deaths in Alamosa’s homeless population, identifying the individuals as Lawrence and Lydia. The resident said the community was working with partners including La Puente but acknowledged not having a solution.
The resident asked the community to “continue to learn to find understanding” and determine what would prevent future exposure deaths. Council did not respond during the citizen comment period.
Department Highlights
The golf course reported record revenue of $858,307 for 2025 and was selected to host the 3A state championship. The Senior Center offered 743 programs and served 1,837 Thursday meals during the year.
The Housing Authority achieved a 98 percent HUD inspection score on 199 units. The Tree Board is implementing an online application system for its cost-sharing program.
The Rio Frio winter festival is adapting programming to winter conditions, replacing river activities with a dunk tank.
Executive Session
Council entered executive session at the meeting’s conclusion to receive legal advice and discuss negotiating strategies regarding a claim filed against the city. Councilor Mark Martinez recused himself from the executive session.
Support Independent Local Journalism — High Country Advocate was created as a real alternative to regional media that too often silences dissenting voices while taking sides in the political struggle. Producing in-depth, unflinching reporting like this series and others is expensive: servers, editing, research time, and legal review all add up quickly. If these articles have informed you or given you new perspective, please consider supporting HCA with a paid subscription — every subscriber helps keep this reporting strong and independent. 