The Buena Vista Board of Trustees (BoT) approved all items on the agenda during their regular meeting on Tuesday, September 12. These items included a budget amendment for the Carbonate Street project and an easement with Xcel on the Dryfield property. The Chaffee Housing Authority also delivered an organization update to the Board.
Xcel Energy Easement Approved for Construction to Expand Lines on Town Property
The Board approved a revised proposal from Xcel for an easement to replace their large lines starting on Town property going north toward Leadville.
Initially presented as a permanent easement, the town and Xcel agreed on a temporary construction easement allowing them access for two years to cover the duration of the construction project. Xcel will be required to restore any damage done to the property from the work.
Budget Amended for Triangular Carbonate Street Parcel
The Board unanimously approved an amendment to the town’s budget to cover a deposit for the condemned triangular parcel included in Carbonate Street Phase II. While the town has claimed the property, they must go through the process of getting a clear title for it.
The amendment is to cover an $18,125 deposit, which must be held for a year in case anyone comes forward with a viable ownership claim. Essentially, the town must pay a fair market value for the property regardless of if there is someone from which to purchase it.
There is no guarantee that the town will receive the deposit back after a year, but the approved motion indicates they will attempt to do so.
Chaffee Housing Authority Outlines Four Priorities
Chaffee Housing Authority (CHA) Executive Director Ashley Kappel delivered an update to the board on the CHA. Kappel delivered a high-level overview of the CHA’s strategic initiatives recently adopted at a board meeting.
The four priorities Kappel outlined were to:
- Develop more affordable housing by adding seventy-five deed-restricted rental units for Jane’s Place and leasing up Carbonate Street.
- Provide more education, public relations, and advocacy to improve awareness and trust in CHA.
- Increase and improve programming, particularly to work with homeless families and individuals.
- Create a sustainable funding source to support these goals with a secure, ten-year revenue stream of at least one to two million dollars annually.
Kappel said she hoped to continue returning to the board to update them on CHA’s activities, which go together with the town’s efforts to provide more affordable workforce housing to Buena Vista residents.
“The theme is partnerships and working together as a community to solve this problem,” said Kappel concluding her presentation.
When asked by Mayor Libby Fay about funding amounts, Kappel explained that the best case would be five million per year with one to two million being an ideal amount.
The full presentation is available beginning on page 73 of the Board meeting packet.
CHA Housing Spectrum outlining their current programming and goals. Green text indicates what the CHA is doing now, orange text shows what the CHA is working to implement, and red text shows what they hope to do in the future. Image courtesy of the September 12 Board meeting packet.
Consent Agenda and Staff Reports
The consent agenda was passed unanimously. It included minutes from the previous meeting and an agreement with Valerian LLC for the final design of the Billy Cordova Memorial Park. Before approving the contract, Trustee Sue Cobb verified that the design of the park would have a focus on accessibility, inclusivity, and adaptive features. Interim Town Administrator Phillip Puckett confirmed that it was a big part of the plans for the park and disability access is a big part of the Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) grant received for the park.
Cobb moved to approve the agenda and Trustee Cindie Swisher seconded the motion. It was approved during a roll call vote.
Staff reports were delivered by the police chief, planning director, public works director, and interim fire chief.
There was a discussion during Trustee and Staff Interaction about possibly changing the municipal election dates from April to November. Town Clerk Paula Barnett brought up the topic for consideration because it would allow the Town of Buena Vista to coordinate with the county and with the county clerk conducting the elections.
Interim Town Administrator Phillip Puckett agreed with the suggestion. “Paula and I highly recommend the Board consider this,” said Puckett though he allowed that it should be given more thought.
The actual change itself would need to be put on the ballot and voted on by residents. The hope is that moving the election from April to November will diminish confusion and improve the election process and election turnout, by partnering with the county.
At the end of the meeting, the board moved into two executive sessions. to determine positions relative to matters that may be subject to negotiations, develop a strategy for negotiations, and/or instruct negotiators, pursuant to C.R.S. § 24-6-402(4)(e), first concerning the Purchase Agreement for 50 acre-feet of water from the Upper Arkansas Water Conservancy District and second concerning the Sangre de Cristo Electric Association Wildfire Fire Mitigation and Vegetation Management Program first discussed on August 22.
The full agenda and packet for the September 12 BV Board of Trustees meeting is available online. The full meeting can be viewed online at the Town of Buena Vista’s YouTube channel.
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