Grand Junction Parks and Recreation is gearing up for their annual holiday programming events, which kick off tonight at Enstrom’s Candy Downtown. Over 110 people are expected to attend the Annual Chocolate Walk tonight beginning at 5:30 p.m. With cocoa in hand, bundled up in coats and hats, they’ll take of through Downtown Main Street on a history or art tour, guided by industry professionals.

Tomorrow, Saturday, December 7th the 19th Annual Candy Cane Hunt will hit Stocker Stadium as hundreds of kids come to participate in the hunt for over 2,000 candy canes. Doors open at 10:00 a.m. with crafts, treats, and pictures with Frosty the Snowman. The hunt begins promptly at 11:00 a.m. This event is FREE for ages 13 and under.

Wrapping up the holiday events, we’ve partnered with the Grand Junction Kiwanis Club and we’re running for a “cause”. It will be a sight to see on Saturday, December 14th as over 100 Santa’s take off down the Riverfront Trail during the Santa Cause Run at Las Colonias Amphitheater. With a 1K for kids 12 and under, and a 5K open to all, get in the spirit of the season with a reason to give and receive. All proceeds go to purchasing inclusive playground equipment for parks around the Grand Valley. Look for more information to come next week.

Parks and Recreation wants to wish everyone a happy, healthy, and safe holiday season!

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For more information, please contact:
Callie Berkson, Marketing   callieb@gjcity.org or 505-217-6435 (cell)

During a regular meeting on December 4, City Council approved the 2020 Adopted Budget. This action culminates an eight-month process involving work from 13 departments, over 30 employees, and approximately 3,000 hours. In total, there have been six public meetings on the budget including meeting with citizens in July at the beginning of the budget process.

The 2020 Adopted Budget has been developed with an emphasis on the four Strategic Plan directives of:

• Public Safety
• Planning & Infrastructure
• Diversification of our Economic Base
• Connectedness through Community Building

These are built upon the four guiding principles of Partnerships & Intergovernmental Relationships, Communication, Leadership, and Fiscal Responsibility.

The City of Grand Junction is a full-service organization with over 35 distinct types of operations including:

• Emergency medical services, wildland fire fighting, 911 dispatch, police patrol, investigations, bomb squad, SWAT
• Parks, pools, trails, sports facilities, recreation programs
• Streets, engineering, construction, trash collection
• Water service, sewer service, golf, conference center, performance venues
• Destination marketing, legal, accounting, human resource management

As a service provider, the City’s largest expense is labor with 698 full-time employees. The majority of these employees are in public safety operations serving the community 24 hours per day, every day.

The Adopted 2020 Budget represents a $5.4 million, or 3.5% increase from the 2019 Adopted Budget. This increase is due to:

• New public safety positions funded by the First Responder Tax;
• Wage adjustment for all employees of 3.5%
• Increasing costs of fleet and technology for the new public safety positions
• $4 million in new First Responder Tax spending, which includes the opening of Fire Station #6, 15 new firefighter positions, 3 Fire Administrative positions, 7 sworn police officers, 5 Police Civilian positions, 1 Automotive Technician, 1 Recruiter, and new recruitment initiatives.

Specific 2020 Recommended Budget highlights:

• Continued investment in maintenance and improvement of street infrastructure totaling $5.8 million
• Riverfront at Dos Rios Pedestrian Bridge $3.5 million
• Safe Routes to Schools $210,000 (Mesa View, West Middle, Orchard Mesa Middle, Dos Rios)
• Water infrastructure projects totaling $5.6 million
• Sewer infrastructure projects totaling $11.8 million
• Continued development of the riverfront including facilitating $10.4 million in infrastructure at Dos Rios through the General Improvement District
• Emphasis in sustainability through continued investment in solar programs and alternative fuel programs such as the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) system and hybrid and electric vehicle fleet
• Continued partnership with CMU to employ 15 students in part-time/intern positions

City Manager Greg Caton states, “This 2020 Adopted Budget is the culmination of the hard work of City Council and staff over several months. The document is directly aligned with City Council’s newly adopted Strategic Plan, which makes it a strong roadmap for our organization moving into the future. The 2020 Budget is based on a combination of the community’s current needs and desires as well as some more strategic efforts that will help to strengthen our local economy into the future.”

City of Grand Junction Projects with Travel Restrictions

Sewer Line Replacement Project

• Sewer line construction will occur in the following areas:
  • Sandra Avenue between 29 Road and 29 1/4 Road
• Street will be closed to through traffic
• Access for local residents will be provided
• Anticipated completion – January 2020.

City of Grand Junction Annual Leaf Removal Program

• Please drive with caution in areas where crews are working
• Anticipated completion – December.

7th Street and Bookcliff Avenue – Signal Pole Replacement Project

• Expect lane shifts and delays
• Anticipated Completion – Friday December 13.

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Non-City of Grand Junction Projects with Travel Restrictions

Orchard Avenue Reconstruction from Normandy Drive to 29 Road – Mesa County Project

• Orchard Avenue will be closed to through traffic 24/7
• Detour route will be in place
• Access will be maintained for local residents at all times
• Anticipated completion – December.

22 Road between J Road and K Road, Bridge Replacement Project – Mesa County Project

• 22 Road will be closed to through traffic
• Work hours will be 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Mon. – Fri.
• Access will be provided for local residents at all times
• A well-marked detour will be in place
• Anticipated completion – April 2020.

D Road Utility Construction – Colorado Dept. of Transportation (CDOT) Project

• Starting Monday, D Road will be closed between South 10^th Street and South 12th Street
• Detour route will be in place
• Anticipated Completion – December 12.

16 Road Bridge Replacement at Highline Canal – Mesa County Project

• Traffic will be detoured around bridge construction
• Anticipated Completion – May 2020.

29 Road and D Road Utility Construction – Golden Gate Petroleum Project

• Alternating one lane traffic on 29 Road south of D Road on Sunday, December 8
• Expect moderate delays
• Alternate route advised

With the approval of the Grand Junction City budget for 2020, the Grand Junction Commission on Arts and Culture will have a total of $40,000 in funding available for arts and cultural projects. The grant program opens Friday, December 6, 2019 and closes Monday, February 3, 2020. Any non-profit agency or organization in the state of Colorado that is bringing a cultural experience to Grand Junction may apply for up to $4,500 in funding.

To assist organizations with the grant process, two identical trainings will be held December 11, 2019 at 9:00 a.m. and January 9, 2020 at 3:00 p.m. Each training will be held at the Grand Junction Parks and Recreation office located at 1340 Gunnison Avenue. To reserve a spot, call 970-254-3876.

This art grant program helps provide employment, sales, or performance opportunities for working artists and those who work for cultural non-profits by supporting a broad range of community cultural events. In 2019, the art grant program funded 20 non-profit organizations with an economic impact of $396,000 in the community, employed 662 performers and contributed 12,000 volunteer hours to a variety of events, festivals, educational programs, and camps.

Since 1992, the Grand Junction Commission on Arts and Culture’s art grant program has provided funding for arts and culture in our community. Appointed by City Council, this eleven member board is committed to creating a climate for arts and culture to thrive and grow.

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For more information, please contact:
Primary: Lorie Gregor, Recreation Coordinator   970-254-3876 or lorieg@gjcity.org
Secondary: Callie Berkson, Marketing   970-254-3867 or callieb@gjcity.org

For more detailed information on any of these items, read the full agendas and/or staff reports here: http://www.gjcity.org/city-government/agendas-and-minutes/  City Council meeting videos can also be found at the same link.

City Council will discuss the following items at this week’s meetings:

Monday, 12/2/19 – 5:30 p.m.    City Council Workshop City Hall Auditorium, 250 N. 5^th Street

Discussion Topics

1a. Redevelopment Area Discussion

1b. 2020 Comprehensive Plan Update

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Wednesday, 12/4/19 – 6:00 p.m.    City Council Meeting City Hall Auditorium, 250 N. 5^th Street

Proclamations

Proclaiming December 7, 2019 as National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day in the City of Grand Junction

Proclaiming December 18, 2019 as International Day of the Migrant in the City of Grand Junction

Regular Agenda

Public Hearings

4ai. Cancellation of the January 1, 2020 City Council Meeting

5ai. An Ordinance to 1) Amend the Comprehensive Plan Future Land Use Map from Residential Medium (4-8 du/ac) to Residential High Mixed Use and 2) Rezone from a R-5 (Residential-5 du/ac) to R-24 (Residential-24 du/ac) on a 3.58-Acre Property Located at 621 26 ½ Road

5bi. Ordinance to Amend Part of Chapter 3 Section 12 Subsection 020 of the City of Grand Junction Municipal Code of Ordinances Relating to Sales and Use Tax Definitions

5bii. An Ordinance Appropriating Certain Sums of Money to Defray the Necessary Expenses and Liabilities of the City of Grand Junction, Colorado and the Downtown Development Authority for the Year Beginning January 1, 2020 and Ending December 31, 2020

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Wednesday, 12/4/19 – Following the 6:00 p.m. City Council Meeting – Grand Junction Dos Rios General Improvement District       City Hall Auditorium, 250 N. 5^th Street

Public Hearings

2ai. Appropriation Resolution for the 2020 City of Grand Junction Dos Rios General Improvement District Budget

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Contact: Greg LeBlanc, Sr. Assistant to the City Manager 970-244-1557 or gregoryl@gjcity.org

City of Grand Junction Projects with Travel Restrictions

Sewer Line Replacement Project

• Sewer line construction will occur in the following areas:
  • Sandra Avenue between 29 Road and 29 1/4 Road
• Street will be closed to through traffic
• Access for local residents will be provided
• Anticipated completion – January 2020.

City of Grand Junction Annual Leaf Removal Program

• Please drive with caution in areas where crews are working
• Anticipated completion – December.

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Non-City of Grand Junction Projects with Travel Restrictions

Orchard Avenue Reconstruction from Normandy Drive to 29 Road – Mesa County Project

• Orchard Avenue will be closed to through traffic 24/7
• Detour route will be in place
• Access will be maintained for local residents at all times
• Anticipated completion – December.

22 Road between J Road and K Road, Bridge Replacement Project – Mesa County Project

• 22 Road will be closed to through traffic
• Work hours will be 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Mon. – Fri.
• Access will be provided for local residents at all times
• A well-marked detour will be in place
• Anticipated completion – April 2020.

Front Street Water Line Replacement – Clifton Water District Project

• Front Street between 2^nd Street and 5^th Street will be closed to through traffic
• Street will reopen evenings and weekends
• Anticipated Completion – December 9.

City of Grand Junction Projects with Travel Restrictions

Sewer Line Replacement Project

• Sewer line construction will occur in the following areas:
  • Formay Avenue & Sandra Avenue between 29 Road and 29 1/4 Road
• Street will be closed to through traffic
• Access for local residents will be provided
• Anticipated completion – November.

Raw Waterline Project from City Water Plant to Las Colonias Business Park

• Please slow down and be aware of road damage due to utility construction along 26 ¼ Road, South of Hwy 50 (roadway adjacent to cemetery)
• Asphalt paving will take place this week (Weather Dependent).

City of Grand Junction Annual Leaf Removal Program

• Please drive with caution in areas where crews are working
• Anticipated completion – December.

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Non-City of Grand Junction Projects with Travel Restrictions

Orchard Avenue Reconstruction from Normandy Drive to 29 Road – Mesa County Project

• Orchard Avenue will be closed to through traffic 24/7
• Detour route will be in place
• Access will be maintained for local residents at all times
• Anticipated completion – December.

22 Road between J Road and K Road, Bridge Replacement Project – Mesa County Project

• 22 Road will be closed to through traffic
• Work hours will be 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Mon. – Fri.
• Access will be provided for local residents at all times
• A well-marked detour will be in place
• Anticipated completion – April 2020.

Front Street Water Line Replacement – Clifton Water District Project

• Front Street between 2^nd Street and 5^th Street will be closed to through traffic
• Street will reopen evenings and weekends
• Anticipated Completion – December.