Salida City Council raised maximum prices for deed-restricted affordable homes by $42,000 on June 2, while residents clashed over wildlife protection versus off-leash dog access at Vanderveer Ranch — with three council members backing a work session to consider putting the question to voters.
The council unanimously approved Resolution 2026-17, increasing the fee-in-lieu payment to $14.68 per square foot — up from $13.98 last year — based on an 8% jump in Chaffee County’s Area Median Income. Council Member Alisa Pappenfort noted the sharp price increase. Council Member Suzanne Fontana said the higher fees were good news because they generate more revenue for the housing fund.
In a companion measure, council approved Resolution 2026-16, adopting new maximum rents and sale prices for inclusionary housing units tied to the AMI increase. The vote was 5–1, with Council Member Wayles Martin dissenting on principle. Martin said the nonprofit employees she employs would not qualify for housing the city requires developers to build — then corrected an email she had sent to local employers that overstated the income restriction, clarifying on the record that $62,000 is a threshold, not a hard cutoff.
More than a dozen residents packed the citizen comment period to argue over allowing off-leash dogs with river access at Vanderveer Ranch, a 50-plus-acre city property in planning.
Richard Markovich, representing the Salida Canine Access Coalition, requested a seat in the Vanderveer planning process. The coalition collected nearly 200 signatures in five to seven days and offered to help with fundraising, maintenance, and riparian restoration. He argued that dogs have used the South Arkansas River corridor at Vanderveer for 20 years and that the flat terrain serves seniors and people with disabilities.
Chris Lamson, president of Collegiate Peaks Trout Unlimited, countered that a north-south-oriented dog enclosure with 135 feet of riverfront would cut off wildlife movement through the entire river valley, separating the lower mile of the South Arkansas from more than 25 miles of upstream riparian habitat. He said animals moving through would detect the enclosure as predator territory. Keith Krebs, vice president of Collegiate Peaks Trout Unlimited, warned that free-range dogs raise nitrate levels and deplete oxygen in the river. He noted the riparian corridor is just 3% of Colorado’s land area but sustains roughly 80% of area wildlife.
Jessica Downing with the Greater Arkansas River Nature Association said game cameras document dogs disturbing wildlife and people trespassing on private property. She said dog owners have yelled at children during stream sampling events that the area is not for kids. Former council member Dominique Naccarato raised practical questions about who would fund wildlife-friendly fencing, who would handle long-term maintenance, and how dogs would be prevented from crossing onto private land during low water.
Sofia Adinolfi, Salida Farmers Market manager, told the council the market has quadrupled its vendor count since 2022 and will not allow dogs regardless of city ordinance, though ADA service animals are welcome. Dog owners speaking in support said the area has operated without incident for years and provides one of the few flat, accessible spaces for senior residents and their pets.
During council reports, a resident who commented online criticized the F Street pedestrian mall street closures as unfair to downtown businesses and questioned emergency vehicle access. Mayor Justin Critelli corrected the record: the closure affects 60 parking spaces, not 700, and emergency vehicles can reach downtown through removable bollards and available alleys. He also clarified that the July 4th parade will travel down F Street, with bollards removed for the route.
Council Member Martin proposed a work session to explore requiring Xcel Energy to bury power lines citywide rather than only with new construction, citing wildfire risk during high-wind shutoffs. City staff noted Xcel representatives are scheduled to meet with the county on June 23rd. Martin and two other council members also expressed support for a work session on whether the off-leash dog question should go to voters, with the November 2026 ballot deadline still open.
Council Member Aaron Stephens reported the Salida airport is completing its fuel farm project, with tanks delivered and pads poured. The airport has reached maximum hangar capacity, with one under construction and two in planning, and officials are exploring eastward expansion for water, electricity, and additional tarmac. Council Member Fontana announced four new downtown businesses: Benjamin Bookshop at 215 F Street, Lago Trattoria replacing Sprockets, Greystone in the former Wallbangers building on Highway 50, and Green River Cafe on First Street. She also asked residents to walk their wheeled devices on the F Street mall, flagging e-bikes, scooters, and skateboards as safety hazards for elderly and mobility-limited pedestrians.
The consent agenda passed unanimously, approving special event liquor licenses for the July 4th Community Center event, the 30th Annual Colorado Brewers Rendezvous, and Wine Fest. Council proclaimed June as LGBTQ+ Pride Month, calling on residents to work toward eliminating prejudice.
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. 