Eagle Town Council unanimously approved an emergency water conservation ordinance Tuesday night, codifying the town’s existing restriction stages into law and giving staff enforcement authority for the first time as Public Works Director Tom Gosiorowski warned Stage 3 restrictions could arrive within weeks if temperatures continued climbing. The council also reviewed a five-year strategic plan nearing final adoption, heard a proposal from Eagle County for a shared pickleball complex adjacent to Town Park, and approved a resolution directing staff to pursue expansion of the Downtown Development Authority boundary. Finance Director Rachel Tand reported first-quarter sales tax receipts running more than $300,000 ahead of the same period last year.
Gosiorowski told the council the town had been operating under Stage 2 water restrictions and that snowpack at the Fremont Pass and Vail Pass SNOTEL stations — the two reference points named in the new ordinance — had nearly melted. He said recent precipitation had temporarily reduced customer demand, allowing him to hold at Stage 2, but that warmer temperatures forecast for that week could push conditions toward Stage 3. Stage 4 would mean zero outdoor water use. Gosiorowski also reported the town’s Green Mountain Reservoir water contract had been declared unavailable for 2026 due to the reservoir’s critically low level, but that Eagle’s portfolio of historic consumptive use water rights was sufficient to cover the gap without assistance from the Colorado River District.
Council members questioned the broken SNOTEL data link cited in the ordinance, fines for violations, and whether there was a variance for newly installed landscaping. Gosiorowski confirmed fines were defined in a table in the ordinance text, that a fourth violation becomes a criminal matter with judicial discretion up to $2,650, and that the ordinance included provisions allowing irrigation of newly planted trees and shrubs. He said he was considering whether to restrict installation of new spray-irrigated grass for the season. Council approved Ordinance 9, Series 2026 unanimously.
Tand presented the Q1 2026 sales tax report during staff reports, noting that online sales were up 33 percent, construction materials were up, while lodging was down 15 percent and food and restaurant sales were flat. She noted that four months of receipts ran more than $300,000 ahead of the prior year, and said the stronger-than-projected revenue would allow the budget to be less conservative going forward.
Eagle County presented two site concepts for public pickleball courts on county-owned land west of the Eagle County building, immediately adjacent to Town Park. Kelly Muir, Eagle County Facilities Director, said the county’s geothermal project had cleared the site of all turf and the county was seeking a three-way partnership with the Town of Eagle and Mountain Recreation District. County Manager Jeff Shroll and facilities staff member Jesse Meryhew joined Muir for the presentation. The six-court option carried an estimated cost of $543,000, split roughly $181,000 per partner; eight courts came in at $668,000, or approximately $223,000 per partner. Council members expressed a preference for eight courts and asked staff to return with noise mitigation cost estimates and a breakdown of long-term maintenance obligations, with no vote taken.
Tand confirmed the town held approximately $223,000 in its Conservation Trust Fund with no other projects allocated against it, which could cover the town’s share of the eight-court option. Mayor Pro Tem Jamie Woodworth Foral asked that future financial materials note where River Park grant match funding would be earmarked before the council commits those dollars elsewhere.
Council moved Resolution 34, Series 2026 from the consent agenda to business items and approved it unanimously, directing staff to initiate petitions for inclusion of town-owned properties into the Downtown Development Authority. Economic Development and Housing Specialist Nikki Davis told the council that staff had identified approximately 115 town-owned parcels — including lots and rights-of-way — that could potentially connect to the existing DDA boundary, including properties that could extend the district toward East Eagle. Davis said adding town-owned parcels does not change property tax liabilities for affected owners and carries few downsides unless the council later delegates significant regulatory authority to the DDA board. Town Attorney Richard Peterson-Cremer noted that Colorado law calls for a liberal interpretation of the DDA adjacency requirement, allowing a broader geographic reach than a strict contiguous-boundary standard.
Strategic planning consultant Brian Pool walked the council through the draft 2026 Strategic Plan, which organizes the town’s five-year agenda under four objectives: invest in economic development, enable community vitality, maintain and modernize critical infrastructure, and improve town operations. The plan includes roughly 20 initiatives with timelines running from the third quarter of 2026 through 2028 and beyond. Mayor Bryan Woods pushed for clearer accountability measures and finish dates alongside the start dates currently in the draft. Town Manager Melissa Daruna acknowledged that a large number of initiatives were scheduled to begin within the next two years and said staff was reviewing feasibility before the plan returns for final adoption in June.
Council Member Scott Schreiner suggested the town develop watering guidance materials for residents to help people manage irrigation under restrictions without over-watering. A question arose about high-speed electric dirt bikes in town after a public commenter raised the issue, prompting Police Chief Carrie Buhlman to clarify that vehicles without pedals fall under the town’s specialty vehicle ordinance and are restricted to off-road areas, not town streets or paths. The council asked Buhlman to return at a future meeting with a fuller briefing on e-bike regulation.
During public comment, Sarah Smith-Himes introduced herself as a candidate for the Holy Cross Energy board and reminded residents that ballots were active and could be returned by mail or online. Eagle County Clerk and Recorder Becky Close presented an election update, noting that mail ballots for the June 30 primary would go out June 8 and that unaffiliated voters must return only one party ballot or neither will count. Andie Noakes, Chief Deputy Appraiser for the Eagle County Assessor’s Office, introduced herself as a candidate for Eagle County Assessor, noting 25 years in the office and the support of departing Assessor Mark Chapin.
The council adjourned into executive session to discuss the potential acquisition of a commercial property in the downtown area and a legal matter involving a stream gauge installation in Brush Creek Valley open space. One council member recused herself from the stream gauge discussion at the meeting’s opening.
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. 