For more detailed information on any of these items, read the full agendas and/or staff reports here:   http://grandjunctioncityco.iqm2.com/citizens/default.aspx  City Council meeting videos can also be found at the same link.

City Council will discuss the following items at this week’s workshop and meeting:

Monday, 9/17/18 – 5:30 p.m.    City Council Workshop     City Hall Auditorium, 250 N. 5^th Street

Discussion Topics

a. Health Services Agreement with Marathon Health, LLC
b. HopeWest Expansion Project
c. Park and Open Space System

~ Next Workshop Topics
~ Other Business

Wednesday, 9/19/18 – 6:00 p.m.    City Council Meeting   City Hall Auditorium, 250 N. 5^th Street

Regular Agenda

5a. A Resolution Regarding a 2019 Ballot Question(s) Regarding a Community Center

6ai. An Ordinance Amending Section 24.12.140, 24.12.160, 24.12.170, and 24.12.180 of the Greater Downtown Overlay (Title 24 of the Grand Junction Municipal Code) Regarding Design Guidelines and Standards in the Greater Downtown Transitional and Residential Area (Item Continued from August 15, 2018)

6bi. An Ordinance Rescinding Ordinance No. 4810 Regarding the Fossil Trace Rezone

6bii. An Ordinance Rezoning the Fossil Trace Holdings, LLC Property from RR (Residential – Rural) to R1 (Residential 1 du/ac), Located at 465 Meadows Way

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

Grand Junction City Manager Greg Caton has appointed long-term City employee Jay Valentine to serve as the director of the newly created General Services Department. The appointment will take effect right away.

Valentine was hired by the City of Grand Junction as an Accountant Analyst in 1999. In the time he has been an employee of the City, Jay has demonstrated his diverse skillset and has achieved promotion several times serving as Accounting Supervisor, Purchasing and Fleet Manager, Assistant Financial Operations Manager and Internal Services Manager. He had most recently been promoted to Deputy Director of Finance. Jay earned a Bachelor of Finance from the University of Northern Colorado and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Colorado. He is also certified as a Public Funds Investment Manager and a Certified Government Investment Professional.

The functions and responsibilities under the General Services Department will include:

• Fleet Operations – fueling, acquisition and disposal, and maintenance
• Facilities – maintenance and janitorial, energy management, and special building projects
• Procurement – purchasing, warehousing, surplus property, and contract management
• Projects Team – Cross-departmental projects
• Business Management – Tiara Rado and Lincoln Park golf courses, parking, investment management, budget development assistance, debt management, and capital management

City Manager Greg Caton states, “Jay has already been responsible for the majority of these areas. I made the decision that moving golf operations under Jay’s direction made good sense given the very financial and business-like nature of the function. The breadth of all Jay’s responsibilities made it clear to me that collectively this was too big to put under the umbrella of the Finance Department and that a new department was warranted. Jay has certainly proven his worth and his competence over his many years of service with the City, so this was a very logical decision. I am confident he will do a great job and that these areas will achieve operational excellence under his leadership and management.”

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

On August 21, the City of Grand Junction announced mandatory outdoor watering restrictions for all customers who use City of Grand Junction water for irrigation. The recommended outdoor watering schedule was implemented in a 3-2-1 format which entails restricting watering to three days per week in August, two days per week in September, and one day per week in October.

Since the implementation of those restrictions, City water consumption has improved dramatically with 33.1 million gallons saved overall since restrictions were implemented as compared to last year at this same time.

City Utilities Director Randi Kim noted, “The water savings that we have seen so far exceed what we expected. Our customers are taking water conservation seriously and we are pleased to see that. Everything that is done now to conserve will help with next year’s situation. We are hopeful we will be seeing normal winter precipitation to even further improve our conditions. We are certainly not out of the woods, but every drop helps.”

The series of events and decision points that lead up to the decision to implement mandatory water restrictions was as follows:

• Winter 2017-18 – Very low snowfall amounts seen over the winter. The best snow water equivalent reading in our watershed last winter was only 59% of normal. Only 1977 and 2002 were lower.
• Spring 2018 – Low precipitation trend seen during the winter in Western Colorado continued and the Grand Valley’s drought status had deteriorated to level D2 “Severe Drought” as defined by the National Drought Mitigation Center.
• May 4, 2018 – The Drought Response Information Project (DRIP), a cooperative effort between Grand Valley Water providers, held a press conference to notify customers of voluntary water restrictions being put in place in light of our D2 drought classification.
• Week of July 10, 2018 – Due to the continued lack of precipitation and above-average temperatures, the Grand Valley was moved into the D3 “Extreme” drought classification. DRIP members began discussions regarding mandatory water restrictions, but were hopeful that the US Climate Prediction Center’s forecast of above-average monsoonal precipitation starting as soon as July 16 would provide relief. 2018 actually had the earliest onset of monsoonal precipitation in the western US since records were kept, but it did not benefit Grand Junction.
• August, 2018 – Although above average-monsoonal precipitation continued to stay in the long-term forecast, the anticipated precipitation did not materialize. Significant evaporation due to fewer cloudy days and temperatures 10-15 degrees above normal on the Grand Mesa was being observed in the City’s water storage reservoirs.
• August 21, 2018 – The City of Grand Junction announces mandatory outdoor watering restrictions and encouraged all water users to adopt the 3-2-1 outdoor watering schedule.

For additional information on City of Grand Junction Water Services, visit the web page at https://www.gjcity.org/residents/water-services/.

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

Parks and Recreation Director Rob Schoeber has announced he will be retiring after ten years at the helm of the City of Grand Junction’s department.

Schoeber joined the City of Grand Junction as Parks and Recreation Director in 2008. Prior to being offered the Grand Junction position, he served as Parks and Recreation Director in Cody, WY for seventeen years and Recreation Superintendent in Rawlins, WY for four years.

Just a few of the many notable accomplishments under Rob’s direction include the completion of the Stocker Stadium/Suplizio Field renovation and construction of the Hospitality Tower; construction of the Las Colonias Amphitheater; completion of phase 1 of Las Colonias Park and ground breaking and progress toward phase 2; multiple park renovations including Canyon View, Rocket and Lincoln Parks; restoration of the Crown Point Cemetery; renovation of the Tiara Rado golf course; numerous improvement and safety projects in Downtown and completion of the Community Center Feasibility Study.

Schoeber has represented the City of Grand Junction on many boards and commissions during his tenure here, and currently serves on the Grand Valley Sports Commission and the Junior College World Series (JUCO) Committee.

According to Rob, “I have been fortunate to work with an extremely energetic and dedicated department in Grand Junction. Over the past ten years, we have been involved in many local partnerships that have enabled us to further develop our programs and capital projects. It has been a privilege to work closely with individuals who are dedicated to leisure programs and facilities.”

City Manager Greg Caton noted, “Rob and his staff have really exhibited solid execution when it comes to how high-quality parks and recreation programming contributes to the overall quality of life in a community, as well as a what a key role it can play in economic development. Grand Junction is in a very good place right now with our sports facilities and amenities and Rob’s leadership helped get us there. We wish him nothing but the best, but he will be missed.”

Rob’s retirement will become effective in December 2018.

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://grandjunctioncityco.iqm2.com/citizens/default.aspx  City Council meeting videos can also be found at the same link.

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

Wednesday, 9/5/18 – 6:00 p.m.    City Council Meeting   City Hall Auditorium, 250 N. 5^th Street

Proclamations

Proclaiming September 5, 2018 as Sister City Day in the City of Grand Junction

Proclaiming September 10 -­ 16, 2018 as National Direct Support Professional Week in the City of Grand Junction

Proclaiming September 10 -­ 16, 2018 as Colorado Cities and Towns Week in the City of Grand Junction

Proclaiming September 15 – October 15, 2018 as Hispanic Heritage Month in the City of Grand Junction

Proclaiming September 17 -­ 23, 2018 as Constitution Week in the City of Grand Junction

City Manager Report

a. Colorado Cities and Towns Week: Council/Manager Form of Government – Video

Regular Agenda

5ai. An Ordinance Amending the Zoning and Development Code (Title 21 of the Grand Junction Municipal Code) Regarding the Decision­-making Authority of Boards, Commissions, and the Director

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