GUNNISON — The Gunnison City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to create the city’s first dedicated economic development organization, a new external nonprofit charged with retaining and growing businesses within city limits. The 5-0 vote came during an April 28 regular session that also produced a $583,448 contract for concrete and ADA repairs, two budget ordinances on first reading, and a $42,500 energy efficiency agreement with Gunnison County.
Economic Development Partnership
City Manager Amanda Wilson asked council to authorize her to establish a new external 501(c)3 to serve as an Economic Retention and Development Partnership — the city’s first dedicated economic development entity. Council approved 5-0.
Wilson said the city has no full-time economic development staff even though economic prosperity is one of five imperatives in the strategic framework council adopted in May 2025. The new entity would coordinate existing contributors — including the Tourism and Prosperity Partnership, TAP, and ICE Lab — while filling gaps, particularly in business retention and support for businesses generating local sales and use tax revenue.
The city would serve as primary funder initially through a contract for services, with funds already appropriated in the 2026 budget. A founding board, self-appointed for a one-year term, would include representatives from the city, Western Colorado University, the school district, major employers, and the Chamber of Commerce. Wilson noted it is common practice in Colorado — Grand Junction and Routt County among examples — for city managers to sit on economic development partnership boards.
One councilor raised concern that current appropriations may not cover legal counsel and an executive director’s salary. Wilson acknowledged the amount may not sustain the entity long-term and said it will need to pursue additional funding sources. She noted she is not aware of comparable entities that operate without public funding. The action Tuesday authorizes Wilson to engage legal counsel to begin establishing the entity.
No members of the public signed up to comment on the item.
Concrete Replacement Contract
Council voted 5-0 to authorize Wilson to execute a contract with CS Limited of Salida for the 2026 Concrete Replacement Project at an amount not to exceed $583,448.35, plus a 10% owner’s contingency of $58,345.
Operations Manager Jason Kibler and Project Manager Lisa Starkebaum presented the item. The project addresses deteriorated or ADA non-compliant infrastructure at four priority sites: South 10th Street, City Hall, the Gunnison Recreation Center, and South 8th Street. The city received one responsive bid from CS Limited, which has previously performed work for the city. Staff found the bid complete, competitive, and within budget. Funding comes from voter-approved 2023 street maintenance revenues and the 2026 system preservation allocation.
Councilor Loren Ahonen asked that the contractor be directed to stage equipment away from residential neighborhoods, particularly asphalt-related equipment due to odors. Kibler said the issue would be addressed at the pre-construction meeting. A councilor also asked staff to keep child safety in mind during summer camp season given the project’s proximity to the recreation center and adjacent park. No members of the public signed up to comment.
GV-HEAT Memorandum of Agreement
Council voted 5-0 to authorize Mayor Diego Plata to execute a $42,500 Memorandum of Agreement with Gunnison County for GV-HEAT — the Gunnison Valley Home Energy Advancement Team — covering administrative costs for energy efficiency and electrification services to city residents.
Gesa Michel, GV-HEAT Energy Program Manager, told council the program expects to weatherize up to 12 homes within city limits this year, down from roughly 20 in prior years, after Energy Outreach Colorado cut funding by more than 50%. Free energy smart assessments — valued at $500 — are now available to all county residents at no cost, and 17 assessments are already scheduled within city limits.
Staff noted $50,000 is budgeted for GV-HEAT but recommended the $32,500 administrative contribution to remain consistent with what other county jurisdictions contribute, with $10,000 budgeted separately. Staff said council could return with a contract amendment if it wants to direct additional funds toward expanded services. No members of the public signed up to comment.
Water Treatment Plant Update
Public Works Director Pete Rice presented an informational briefing on the design of the city’s new water treatment plant alongside Frank Campo of Hazen and Sawyer and Jeremy McVey, Director of Project Development for Haskell. No action was taken.
The design-build team — Haskell and Hazen and Sawyer — recommended granular activated carbon treatment with conventional pre-treatment over previously considered membrane technology. The team cited membranes’ higher operations and maintenance costs, greater energy use, operational complexity, and poor performance with cold water — a significant factor given the Gunnison River’s temperature. Membranes also cannot run purely on surface water. GAC treatment also positions the city to address potential future PFAS contamination, which is not currently an issue in Gunnison.
Rice told council cost is a significant factor in design decisions alongside the city’s 14 adopted project objectives, and that some features may be phased over 25 to 30 years rather than built fully upfront. A councilor asked about expansion capacity given the city’s 2050 population projections. Rice said a capacity discussion scheduled for May 26 will address that directly, noting the difference between a 5 million gallon per day and 6 million gallon per day plant could represent a $15 million cost difference. A water rates discussion is scheduled for May 12. No members of the public signed up to comment.
Street Lighting Evaluation Study
McKinstry representatives Ryan Witt and Brian Firestone joined Rice to present findings from the city’s 2025 Street Lighting Evaluation Study. No action was taken.
The study, completed in summer 2025 and delivered in October, audited all 617 city-owned streetlight assets. More than 90% of existing fixtures use LED technology. The primary problem is insufficient illumination — particularly on Highway 50 and Highway 135, which had the highest rate of traffic accidents among corridors studied. Most crosswalks are underlit. The sole well-performing intersection is Highway 50 and Spruce Street, where supplemental Cobra Head fixtures meet IES lighting standards.
Witt said the primary solution for the two highway corridors is reducing pole spacing by adding poles between existing ones to raise light levels. He recommended prioritizing high-accident intersections and coordinating lighting improvements with the city’s parallel traffic calming work. Council members asked about sequencing relative to broader multimodal and street capacity planning. Rice and Firestone noted the highway corridors present limited options for dramatic street changes regardless of future plans, making them reasonable candidates for early-phase lighting improvements. No further action was authorized. No members of the public signed up to comment.
Traffic Speed Data Collection Program
City Engineer Carly McGowan and Streets Foreman Chris Hulet, joined by Kibler and Starkebaum, updated council on the city’s revived Traffic Speed Data Collection Program. No action was taken.
The program moves traffic counting responsibility from the Police Department to Public Works and uses Doppler-based technology rather than older road tube counters. Counters collect vehicle counts, speeds, and basic vehicle class — small, medium, or large — anonymously. No license plates or individual vehicle data are captured. Collected data will be published on a public GIS map.
Staff said counters will initially focus on collector roads to build baseline data, then shift to resident-requested locations through the city’s traffic calming policy. The program will run primarily during high-traffic months with flexibility to focus on school-area locations in fall. The hardware and software are already owned by the city, making this an ongoing program rather than a one-time effort. No members of the public signed up to comment.
Budget Ordinances — First Reading
Council approved on first reading, 5-0, Ordinance No. 2 and Ordinance No. 3, Series 2026. Finance Director Ben Cowan presented both.
Ordinance No. 2 appropriates $126,140 from a $640,000 reserve to fund design work for the city shop expansion. Staff said a contract award for design work will come before council at a future meeting. Ordinance No. 3 adds approximately $565,000 in revenues to the water fund — a $205,000 design and engineering grant from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and a $360,000 Department of Local Affairs local match grant council previously accepted. Both ordinances were read by title only. Second readings and final adoption will follow at a future meeting. No members of the public signed up to comment.
Gunnison Basin Roundtable Appointment
Council voted 5-0 to appoint Nicole Bogenschuetz to the Gunnison Basin Roundtable to represent Gunnison municipalities for a five-year term. Bogenschuetz is a licensed professional engineer and serves as district engineer and interim executive director of the Mt. Crested Butte Water and Sanitation District.
She replaces William J. Nesbitt II, who served in the role for 15 years before stepping down in December 2025. The city solicited applications in January in coordination with Mt. Crested Butte, Crested Butte, and Pitkin. Both Mt. Crested Butte and Crested Butte had already voted to approve the appointment. No members of the public signed up to comment.
Youth Challenge Grant Report
Gunnison High School Student Leadership Council members Althea Stansbery and Reese Japuntich presented a report on use of a $1,000 Youth Challenge Grant for prom held April 18 at the Western Ballroom. Funds covered a photo booth, catering, and decorations. Approximately 170 people attended — more than the school’s entire graduating class. No action was required; the presentation fulfilled a grant reporting requirement. Adult sponsor Lacie Wise accompanied the students.
Consent Agenda
There was no consent agenda at this meeting.
Western Colorado University Liaison
The Western Colorado University liaison was unable to attend. No announcements were made.
Public Input
No members of the public signed up to address council during the general public input period.
Announcements
Mayor Plata announced he will travel to Cañon City on May 6 with City Manager Wilson and Fire Chief Hugo Ferchau to present a grant application for EIAF funding for fire station design.
Mayor Pro Tem Marisela Ballesteros, the city’s Region 10 representative, reported on Region 10’s April 16 meeting. She said a funding opportunity is open through the Safe Streets for All program with a May 26 application deadline for planning and implementation grants. Region 10 is applying for $450,000 through the USDA Rural Development Intermediary Relending Program for a future micro-loan program. Ballesteros also noted Region 10 is discussing a 3 to 5% membership dues increase for the 2027 budget, and that future loan programs through Region 10 will be limited to U.S. citizens.
Councilor Matt Schwartz flagged two state legislative bills for council to monitor: Senate Bill 26-100 on youth sports, with a hearing scheduled the following day, and Senate Bill 26-164, a THC beverage bill that would allow liquor license holders to apply to the state to serve THC beverages without requiring local government approval. Schwartz noted the bill does not allow jurisdictions that prohibit marijuana sales to opt out.
City Clerk Erica Boucher announced the city removed a Statement of Training and Oath of Applicant form from its liquor licensing procedures after feedback from the Chamber of Commerce indicated it was an unnecessary burden on retail licensees. State licensing applications already require owners to sign compliance oaths covering the same requirements.
Wilson announced the annual Cattlemen’s Days parade route will change. Due to increased traffic volumes on Highway 50, CDOT determined the parade can no longer use that corridor. The parade will still start at Legion Park but will route along Virginia Avenue, Highway 135, and north on Main Street. Wilson said staff will work with businesses on the first block of Main Street, which will no longer see parade traffic.
Executive Session
Council voted 5-0 to enter executive session pursuant to C.R.S. §24-6-402(4)(f)(I) for a mid-year review of City Manager Wilson’s 2026 goals as they relate to operational compliance. No formal action may be taken in executive session.
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