Breckenridge Town Council voted unanimously June 9 to halt new water connections outside town limits for one year, presented a Community Leadership Award to the founder of the Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center, and heard from the Red, White & Blue Fire Protection District that fire danger has reached high and restriction conversations are underway.
Mayor Kelly Owens called the regular meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Council Members Marika Page, Dick Carleton, Steve Gerard, and Jay Beckerman were present. Council Members Carol Saade and Emily Lutke were absent. Minutes of the May 26, 2026 regular meeting were approved without changes. The agenda was approved without changes.
Water Moratorium
Council adopted Resolution No. 9, Series 2026, placing a one-year moratorium on new out-of-town water service connections while the town completes a Water Master Plan update and rehabilitation of the Gary Roberts water treatment plant. Public Works Director James Phelps said the plan will determine what future connections outside the established service boundary can responsibly be supported. Around 2016, the town invited approximately 20 single-family homes and the Trails at Berlin Placer subdivision to connect in anticipation of expanded capacity from a second plant. Existing out-of-town customers under contract are not affected. The vote was 4-0.
Community Leadership Award
The council presented the Community Leadership Award to Gene Dayton, recognizing nearly 60 years of service. Mayor Owens and Council Member Page cited Dayton’s co-founding of the Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center in 1976 — 14 years before the Americans with Disabilities Act — and his role building the Breckenridge Nordic Center, one of the longest continuously operating Nordic centers in the country. The BOEC campus on F&D Placer land leased from the town now serves more than 1,159 participants annually in programs ranging from adaptive skiing and kayaking to a wheelchair-accessible ropes course. The town recently extended the BOEC lease by 75 years. Dayton thanked the town, saying neither organization would exist without municipal support over the decades. Reverend Michael Atkinson sang “The Impossible Dream” from the dais at Dayton’s request, having performed it at the BOEC’s 30th anniversary.
Wildfire
Matt Benedict, Wildfire Division Chief for the Red, White & Blue Fire Protection District, told council that fire danger elevated to high the morning of June 9, driven by blustery, dry conditions with little rain forecast. No fire starts have occurred in the forest, with vegetation still greening, but Benedict said decision-maker conversations about formal restrictions are happening multiple times per week. Federal pre-positioned resources, including smokejumpers staged in Grand Junction, are within a few hours of the area.
Benedict urged residents to sign up for SC Alert notifications, noting only 25 to 30 percent of the population is currently enrolled. He recommended keeping vehicles at least half full of gas and leaving early if ordered to evacuate, noting a fire evacuation will put far more vehicles on roads than a ski day. A county evacuation capacity study is in second-draft phase and expected this summer. The district’s free chipper program is seeing strong participation and may be nearing capacity — Benedict urged residents to keep bringing material to the curb.
A council member asked about firewood sales during restrictions. Benedict said Stage 2 restrictions typically prompt City Market and Safeway to pull or cover firewood displays, but town pressure matters since it involves private business decisions.
Dark Sky Streetlights
Council moved by consensus to accelerate the town’s conversion of remaining town-owned streetlights to dark sky-compliant LED fixtures by one year, completing the work in 2026 rather than 2027. The program is already funded in the capital plan at approximately $3.3 million with no new appropriation required. Contractor capacity is available.
The 167 streetlights owned by Xcel Energy remain unresolved. Phelps said Xcel has refused to approve dark sky lighting designs not meeting its standard specifications despite more than a year of negotiations. A council member noted Recreation Center patrons have complained about being required to comply with dark sky standards while the town has not completed its own conversion. A council member also asked staff to investigate a highway sign at Highway 9 and Tiger Road — advertising the Highlands, golf course, and Nordic Center — that is neither dark sky-compliant nor in good repair, with no clear record of ownership.
Small Cell Towers and Stables Landscaping
A board member of the Stables HOA told council during public comment that a 30-foot cell pole is being installed in the direct line of sight of multiple homes in the neighborhood, which already has a solar field, power lines, and a large parking lot nearby. He questioned why placement was not closer to the ski resort where tourist demand is higher. Mayor Owens acknowledged the town has limited control over small cell placement under FCC rules but said staff would follow up.
The same speaker said the developer cut the landscaping budget for the Stables, eliminating planned parks, shelters, flower beds, and shrubs depicted in marketing materials. He said most residents are not yet aware. Owens said staff would contact the developer.
During the work session, planners briefed council on six Verizon small cell applications in the planning or building permit process, most on freestanding poles in the right of way. Staff said Verizon’s antenna equipment is too large to share poles with other carriers at most locations, confirmed by third-party engineering review by HR Green. A council member asked whether future carriers could be required to share structures; staff said co-location is the preferred option in code but cannot be mandated where technical constraints prevent it.
ADU and Short-Term Rental Policy
Council reached consensus to advance a code change removing the deed-restriction requirement for unrestricted accessory dwelling units, giving property owners more flexibility for in-law units, caregiver housing, and lock-offs. Community Development staff presented a Phase 1 analysis showing that ADU additions increase licensed short-term rental occupancy by two people per added bedroom under current rules but do not create a second license. Staff said concerns about ADUs enabling new short-term rental abuses are, in their assessment, largely resolved by parking constraints, site envelopes, and practical market dynamics. Several council members requested 90-day tracking reports to monitor how new ADUs are being used. A Phase 2 discussion on deed-restricted ADU incentives is expected in July. Council Member Beckerman said the existing policy has suppressed ADU creation for six to eight years.
Water Restrictions and Blue River
Stage 2 water restrictions in effect since May 1 are showing early compliance results. The Tarn is at or near capacity with strong inflows. A council member asked about the section of the Blue River that goes subsurface below the Skelly Pond outflow near Ollie’s and resurfaces at Sawmill Creek. Phelps confirmed the water is present but underground in that stretch. The River Pathways study includes analysis of restoring surface flow; cost estimates are not yet available. Phelps said there is no plan to drain the F&D reservoir and perennial inflow should keep it stable.
Electrification
Jessie Burley, Sustainability and Parking Manager, announced a virtual Electrify Breck webinar scheduled June 15 from 4 to 5 p.m., with energy coaches available to discuss rebates and incentives from Energy Smart, Electrify Breck, Solarize Summit, and the Mountain Energy Project. A council member raised concerns about an Xcel Energy report projecting a near-doubling of the daily natural gas shortfall within 10 years. Burley said the model reflects worst-case gas demand without accounting for electrification adoption rates, since only about 20 Electrify Breck applications have been received so far. She said new construction not connecting to gas and large commercial retrofits represent the biggest reduction opportunities. Burley also noted CMC’s Rifle campus recently announced a new HVAC and electrician training program that could help address the skilled workforce shortage in electrification trades. A council member suggested Burley’s response to a resident who believed the town was mandating electrification be turned into a public Q&A article.
Tourism
Lucy Kay, Breckenridge Tourism Office Director, reported lodging is running about 2 percent above 2025, consistent with other mountain destination marketing organizations. Kay said Denver recorded a lodging record in 2025 and suggested some post-COVID demand may be returning to urban destinations. Two culinary events under the Global Fire brand are planned for October 9–10 — a VIP dinner at the Mine and a free street event on Ridge — with October bookings already up 500 nights over the same point last year. July 4 parade floats are sold out. The BTO annual meeting is June 18 at Town Hall.
Financial Audit
Jim Hinkle of Hinkle & Company CPAs reported no deficiencies in internal controls and issued a clean audit opinion on the town’s 2025 finances. The general fund held approximately $101 million in cash against roughly $155 million in annual expenditures. The town did not meet the $1 million federal spending threshold requiring a single audit.
Mental Health
Mayor Owens reported Summit County is experiencing elevated suicide numbers in the first half of 2026, approaching levels last seen in 2017. The Mountain Municipalities Coalition discussed the issue at its last meeting. Police Chief Dawn Layman and Building Hope are continuing conversations about filling service gaps. Council will be kept informed of any resulting programs.
911 System
The county has hired a consultant to negotiate contract terms with the vendor selected to replace the 911 computer-aided dispatch system after disagreements over the agreement language. Chief Layman has been representing the town in 911 board discussions.
Dog Park Rules
Staff presented draft dog park rules covering licensing, vaccination, behavior, and cleanliness, developed after reviewing standards from more than 15 municipalities. Council Member Beckerman disclosed he stopped at the police department on the way to the meeting to register his dog, who became license number 45, suggesting widespread non-compliance with the existing licensing requirement. He proposed requiring owners involved in a bite incident to provide identification and vaccination records to the victim, citing a personal incident in which his wife was bitten and the owner left without identifying themselves. Staff will return with a finalized version.
Arts and Culture Master Plan
Consultants Linda Flynn and Rosario Tsai of Cultural Planning Group presented a four-day community engagement plan for the town’s first Arts and Culture Master Plan scheduled June 17–20, with bilingual facilitation at the Farmer’s Market, AeroStage, the Recreation Center, and other locations. A final plan is expected in late 2026. Council Member Beckerman asked staff to ensure engagement events appear on the town’s public calendar, noting residents frequently report it is incomplete.
Mobility
Matt Hulsey, Assistant Mobility Director, reported the eRide program hit its highest ridership of the season on June 6 at 276 rides. Two new E-Galley electric buses have arrived; a ribbon-cutting is planned before the June 23 council meeting, coinciding with the summer’s first Bus to Work Day. Free Ride ridership is down approximately 20 percent year-to-date but was 1 percent below 2025 for May alone. Year-to-date ridership stands at 550,000.
Housing and Open Space
No updates were presented for housing or open space.
Events
A council member reported the “Party Like It’s 1876” event in late May, a partnership between NRO Backstage, Eclipse, and BCA, drew strong results. Fifty percent of line dancing attendees brought restaurant receipts for a discount. The Hearthstone murder mystery dinner sold out.
Pride Month
Mayor Owens read a proclamation recognizing June 2026 as LGBTQIA+ Pride Month, encouraging residents, visitors, and businesses to participate in events honoring the LGBTQIA+ community. No second or first readings were on the agenda. Council Member Beckerman reminded attendees that AeroStage opens its summer season Thursday in the Arts District with a free concert in honor of Pride Month. The Farmers Market opens June 18 with an AeroStage event.
Other
The CML conference runs June 22–25 in Westminster, overlapping the June 23 council meeting. Council members were asked to advise staff by Thursday whether they plan to attend so hotel rooms can be released. Council Member Gerard reported Breckenridge Creative Arts now manages a combined calendar with all partner events. The Arts and Culture Master Plan steering committee meets June 22. The council received a report on the Park City, Utah leadership delegation visit, with the delegation praising town staff and local restaurants.
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