During their regular meeting on September 5, the Salida City Council (SCC) heard citizen comment on various topics including the Salida Scout Wave, Short-Term Rentals (STRs), and the armed “protester” on F Street.
The SCC also considered and approved Resolutions 2023-37, an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with Salida School District R 32 J regarding a School Resource Officer (SRO); and 2023-38, an IGA between the City of Salida, Chaffee County, and the Town of Buena Vista, for funding a regional SWAT team.
During citizen comment, Salida resident Marty Kuhn asked the SCC to reconsider support for the Scout Wave, joining other citizens who have cited its dangers during high water.
“In early August I was playing in low water with my son and another child by the F Street Bridge,” said Kuhn, adding that the other child had lost control of his craft around the bridge and was heading towards the Scout Wave downriver.
“The kid thought he was going to die,” Kuhn continued. “Why is this feature even here? It doesn’t belong here. There is a real monster in the water – what if the proposed fixes don’t work? I know there is a belief that the Scout Wave is bringing in tourist dollars – are these few tourist dollars worth it?”
John Terbush, Executive Director of Salida Mountain Trails, spoke next on the subjects of affordable housing and STRs in the city: “My apartment was turned into an STR. I could only find one apartment in my price range. I even talked to a friend about buying his van. I can’t live here if I can’t afford it…stay strong on STR [regulations].”
Alan Robinson spoke about the Salida-Leadville Stage and Rail Trail. “We are applying for a $60,000 grant, and seeking matching funds from Salida, Buena Vista, the County, and Leadville. We are seeking $1,800 from this council.” Robinson added that the match would not be due until January 2024.
Nancy Wallace, who had spoken at the last SCC meeting about lowering taxes and fees on STRs, said she felt “heard and appreciated” by the Council: “I spoke with the mayor and council members with some suggestions. You could do some city analysis on [as yet unconfirmed] decreases in rentals and sales taxes…I would strongly encourage you to find out a way to work with us [STR owners] on this.”
After Mayor Dan Shore read a proclamation declaring September 15 – October 15, 2023 as National Hispanic Heritage Month, Salida Police Chief Russ Johnson presented the two resolutions.
School Resource Officer IGA Approved
Resolution 2023-37, approving the IGA between the City of Salida and the School District, sets the terms for payment and employment duties for the SRO. After questions from council and the Salida Treasurer regarding budgeting, duties, and how the SRO worked in the school, as well as with Full Circle Restorative Justice and the adult justice system, member Alisa Pappenfort moved to approve 2023-37. The motion passed unanimously.
SWAT Team IGA Approved
Salida Police Lieutenant Russ Johnson
“We’ve had various SWAT teams over the years, both regional and local,” Johnson explained to the SCC, introducing Resolution 2023-38: “The SWAT team only gets called out on high-intensity calls.
“We have officers from all over who are trained in hostage and other negotiations, they are street cops during the day… they have trainings to handle situations that would make normal officers freak out. We [jointly with the county and Buena Vista] bought an armored vehicle after an incident [in Alamosa] with 100+ shots at an officer. We get a lot of grants so that we don’t have to keep coming to you for money [for equipment.]”
Treasurer Merrell Bergin asked Johnson to remind the SCC about which line items related to maintenance of the armored vehicle the city would be liable for a share of. “The localities all chip in for vehicle maintenance,” Johnson said: “There is a cost to employment – if we have to go to Buena Vista, then Salida pays for it.”
Pappenfort asked about where the SWAT team goes outside the county. “I go with them if they go out of county,” Johnson replied: “Six weeks ago, Leadville had a guy who broke into a house with a gun. The Leadville police couldn’t get him out. Our SWAT team was called to see if we could help. We still have the ability to say no, but if it’s close and not going to cost the city an arm and a leg, we like to go.”
Mayor Pro-Tem Justin Critelli made the motion to approve 2023-38. The motion passed unanimously.
Mayor and Council Reports Include Teens, Deer and Taxes
During Council reports, Jane Templeton reminded the SCC that Fiber Fest is coming to Salida this weekend: “Downtown is even more colorful than usual,” (alluding to the annual “yarn bombing” of boulders and tree shields.)
Critelli reported that he had attended a conference in Basalt where he went to workshops on policing and “Destination Stewardship”, which he described as a “pivot from actively attracting tourists to wondering how to manage them.”
He also said that he supported the Extraordinary Teen Council’s housing survey, and that he wanted “to see legal resources address the gunman question,” a sentiment that Harald Kasper seconded and that Dominique Naccarato also agreed with. Shore and Interim City Administrator Christy Doon quickly reassured them that that process was underway though no timeline was provided.
Council person Mike Pollack said that he wanted to pursue the question of a deer cull within city limits. “I have made some effort to talk to people about how to handle this – people who are bow hunters who know how to process deer. There’s a good group of people who can handle this – it would be them taking care of it, we may provide some funding…other towns do it like Cañon City. I really would like to hear about how we might do something, I wold like to get it on a meeting agenda or a work session.”
Mule deer bucks congregate in a yard after a snow storm.
“I would support having a work session,” said Kasper. “I would say yes, but it needs to come from CPW (Colorado Parks and Wildlife),” said Shore. “We can’t do anything this year. This will be a controversial decision no matter what we decide, but I’m open to the conversation.”
Dominique Naccarato said that she would support the deer cull discussion: “Anecdotally, it’s the worst I’ve ever seen.”
“I would like to direct staff to look at [fee] caps in the STR regulations,” said Shore, “and direct staff to have a work session on October 3 to discuss STRs. We will also be getting a legal opinion on the gunman thing.”
Treasurer Bergin reported that the July sales tax report would be ready by the next SCC meeting. Doon reported that the F Street barriers were coming down and that, contrary to a recent rumor, “we are not cutting down all the trees in Alpine Park!”
The next regular SCC meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, September 19.
….getting a legal opinion on the gunman thing? This person cannot run unopposed!