Grand Junction City Manager Greg Caton is hosting a series of informal coffees to interact with community members, gather feedback on City programs and services, and to answer questions.

The next coffee is scheduled for Monday, June 17 at Kiln Coffee Bar, 326 Main Street, at 2:00 p.m. The City Manager will be joined this time by Fire Chief Ken Watkins.

The sessions are open to the public and are an unstructured, drop-in format. More details here: http://bit.ly/2i6AQkR

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

City of Grand Junction Projects with Travel Restrictions

Annual Fire Hydrant Flushing Program

• Please slow down in areas where crews are working
• Watch for minor street flooding
• Anticipated Completion – late May.

Annual Street Striping and Pavement Marking Project

• City crews will be striping the following streets this week (weather permitting)
  • North Avenue: 1^st Street to 29 Road
  • Broadway (Hwy 340): 1^st Street to the Redlands Power Canal
• Please avoid crossing wet paint
• Expect short delays.

2019 Asphalt Overlays

This week’s activities will include the following:

• Redlands Parkway shoulder widening from the Colorado River to River Road/Riverside Parkway
• Expect lane shifts and possible delays.

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Non-City of Grand Junction Projects with Travel Restrictions

2531 Riverside Parkway Utility Work – Private Development Project

• Work hours will be between 9:30am and 3:30pm
• Expect alternating one-lane traffic with possible short delays.

32 Road Sewer Line Replacement Project – Clifton Sanitation District Project

• Watch for utility construction (various locations) along 32 Road between I-70B and D Road
• Please slow down through the work zones and obey traffic control signs and personnel
• Motorists may experience intermittent lane closures and detours
• Anticipated completion – September.

22 Road and H Road Utility Construction – Private Development Project

• H Road is closed to through traffic between 22 Road and 23 Road
• Access for local residents will be provided
• Detour route is in place
• Anticipated completion – May.

E Road between 23 Road and Vista Grande Drive (Redlands) Water Line Upgrade – Ute Water Project

• E road will be closed to through traffic 8am to 5pm, Monday – Friday
• Detour route will be in place
• Access will be provided for local residents
• Anticipated completion – May.

29 ½ Road north of F ½ Road Water Line Replacement – Ute Water Project

• Expect alternating one-lane traffic and moderate delays
• Resident access will be maintained at all times
• Anticipated completion – June.

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The three newly elected members of City Council will be sworn into office by City Clerk Wanda Winkelmann on Monday, May 6 at 10:00 a.m. in the City Hall Auditorium.

Phillip Pe’a, District B; Anna Stout, District C; and Chuck McDaniel, District At Large, will each be administered the oath of office.

The event is open to the public.

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The weather is warming up and it’s time to think about gathering your neighbors for some weekend fun. The new City of Grand Junction Neighborhood Block Party Trailer makes it easy. All you have to do is reserve the trailer, add some of our great Grand Valley weather, provide some food, drinks and neighbors and you are ready to go! The trailer is available at no cost to you.

The trailer is equipped with useful items including street-closure equipment, chairs and tables, water coolers and tubs for ice, lawn games and even clean-up supplies. The City will tow the trailer to your street or site and it is yours to use. Just pack it up clean and organized for the next neighborhood group and the City will tow it from your site.

The Connection Between Block Parties and Stronger Communities

The goal of launching the Neighborhood Block Party Trailer is to make it easier for neighbors to gather together and spend some enjoyable time with, and get to know, one another. These types of gatherings have been around for decades, but such activities are relevant, maybe even more so, today. By spending time with neighbors and strengthening those relationships, communities become more resilient in the face of unexpected issues and concerns. In this way, the City views block parties as an important tool to help create safe, resilient and friendly neighborhoods increasing the livability for residents and strengthening the community fabric.

Thinking About Hosting a Block Party?

If you are interested in hosting a block party and don’t know where to begin, contact the City Neighborhood Program or visit gjcity.org/neighborhoods. Block parties can be simple potlucks with friendly conversation and a few activities for kids. They may also be highly organized gatherings with barbecues, food trucks, music, children’s parades, art and talent contests…and the list goes on. The City can provide you with theme ideas, suggest activities, help you get in touch with other City departments for a visit from local firefighters or police officers, or just assist you in reserving our new Block Party Trailer!

If you want more information, please let us hear from you at 970-244-1430 or comdev@gjcity.org.

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Media contact:  Sam Rainguet, Communications Manager       970-244-1507 or samr@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 this week:

Monday, 4/29/19 – 5:30 p.m.    City Council Workshop     CANCELLED

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Wednesday, 5/1/19 – 6:00 p.m.    City Council Meeting   City Hall Auditorium, 250 N. 5^th Street

Regular Agenda

Presentations
Recognition of Outgoing Councilmembers

Proclamations
Proclaiming May 12-18, 2019 as Police Week in the City of Grand Junction

Proclaiming May as Bike Month and May 8, 2019 as Bike to Work and School Day in the City of Grand Junction

Proclaiming May 5 -11, 2019 as Drinking Water Week in the City of Grand Junction

Public Hearings
6a. An Ordinance Making Supplemental Appropriations for the 2019 Budget for the City of Grand Junction and the Downtown Development Authority

6b. An Ordinance Amending the Comprehensive Plan to Include the Horizon Drive Business Improvement District (BID) Trail Network Plan as a Part of the Grand Junction Circulation Plan

6c. An Ordinance Authorizing the Refunding (Refinancing) of $30,000,000 Certificates of Participation, Series 2010B 

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Contact:  Sam Rainguet, Communications Manager       970-244-1507 or samr@gjcity.org 

As part of a program that began in 1993 to assure the highest quality drinking water, the City of Grand Junction Water Services Division will begin spring hydrant flushing on Monday, April 29. The complete process will take approximately three weeks.

There are 970 fire hydrants and 150 miles of pipe in the City of Grand Junction’s service area. This program will flush 50% of those fire hydrants. Ron Key, Water Distribution Supervisor states, “The total amount of water used in the flushing program equates to about one half of an average day’s consumption during the month of May.”

Other than maintaining water quality, reasons for flushing the water system include:

• Push chlorine residuals to the extremities of the water system
• Eliminate taste and odors
• Remove discolored water
• Maintain the life of the water mains
• Check fire flows and exercise fire hydrants

There are often questions related to hydrant flushing, so here are some of the more common ones:

• What is the total volume of water flushed? Approximately 3,000,000 gallons
• How much water is flushed at each hydrant? 3,500 to 10,000 gallons per hydrant
• Where does the water go? To the storm sewer then to the Colorado River
• If the water is flushed to the Colorado River, is the chlorine harmful to fish?  We have tested the water and have found NO chlorine at the outflow at the Colorado River.
• Why can’t we capture the water in water trucks? Water trucks typically hold only around 2,000 gallons so they are not adequate to capture the amount flushed.
• Would we still need to flush hydrants if we “looped” the hydrants at the end of the line? Yes, 50% of hydrants must be tested each year to verify adequate function. We do “loop” end-of-line hydrants during fall flushing.

Some of the noticeable effects of flushing may be discolored water, low water pressure and noticeable water in the streets and gutters. These conditions should only be for short periods of time. If discolored water is noticed coming from your faucet the water should be allowed to run for several minutes to clear the service line.

During this process, the Water Division will make every effort to cause the least amount of disruption to water service possible. This program is just one way the Division seeks to provide a high level of customer service while continuing to provide water of the highest quality.

If you have any questions regarding the flushing program, please call Ron Key, Water Distribution Supervisor, at 970-244-1572.

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Media contact:  Sam Rainguet, Communications Manager   970-260-5431 or samr@gjcity.org