What’s Up Salida shares news, includes questions on public restrooms, public safety, and the F Street Plaza
A capacity crowd filled the Salida Community Center to share a news-filled hour on Nov.16. In rapid (and random) order, attendees heard from downtown and highway business owners, city and county officials, Colorado Mountain College (CMC) and the Chamber of Commerce, among the major groups. Highlights are reported here.
City and County Officials
Emily Anderson, Deputy Director of Chaffee County Public Health led off with an update on their ongoing programs including resources to help people through the annual health insurance open enrollment period. She briefly referenced the recent incident at the Chaffee Community Clinic, asking for assistance in securing affordable space for the free Salida Clinic that would offer more privacy for clients and safety for their staff. Anderson may be reached at 719-530-2566.
Salida Interim City Administrator Christy Doon outlined recent and upcoming events such as the groundbreaking on November 5 for the new fire station, which, when completed next fall, will include a needed community room for public meetings. She recognized the patience of locals for the redo of Poncha Boulevard (set to reopen later this week) and invited questions about public restrooms and the South Ark Neighborhood, speaking to a city search to fund needed water, sewer, and street infrastructure. A question about deed restrictions at South Ark was addressed at the end of the meeting.
Don Reimer, Chaffee County Administrator announced that Kathy Punke, the county’s first Human Resource Director has recently been onboarded and that a move to an electronic payroll system is being planned. Other projects and improvements to county offices are also underway including the North County EMS, Sheriff’s offices, and secured elections areas.
County Commissioner P.T. Wood spoke of critical legislation currently being debated at the State House regarding rural property tax relief, after the recent defeat of Proposition HH. “It’s complex, it’s challenging and you’re all going to pay a little bit more next year,” Wood said. On a lighter note, during introductions of business owners, Wood (of Wood’s High Mountain Distillery) drew chuckles with “If you’re going to be in politics, it’s a good thing to have a roomful of whiskey.”
F Street Safety, F Street Plaza, Public Restrooms, and the Scout Wave
Donna Cole, Kaleidoscope Toys spoke on behalf of other downtown merchants’ safety concerns.
Mayor Dan Shore addressed her question regarding the continued presence of a man (and often his associates) carrying assault-type weapons at the corner of F and First Streets, generally on Sunday afternoons. Recounting the most recent incident which turned into a shouting match with two others, Shore said that all parties were charged with disorderly conduct. Shore then related the challenges of First and Second Amendment Rights as well as Colorado Open Carry laws.
Protected by Colorado law, people can openly carry their long rifles and pistols. Local governments however do have the power to enact laws that forbid open carry in particular structures or public areas. Examples include: the City of Denver, which prohibits open carry everywhere in the city, with conditions. Closer to home, Crested Butte prohibits openly carrying carry a firearm in a “town-owned or -operated building, or on any Town-owned or -operated park, recreation area.”
Shore said that in December, the newly seated City Council might consider some kind of closely framed ordinance and circumstances for specific areas of Salida. He expressed his reservations about unintended consequences. “What happens if we put something in place and all of a sudden 20 or 30 people show up to support [the armed person]? We have to be really mindful of that.”
Shore then said that the flood of calls to police had dropped off and that some were later found to be “inaccurate reports” (he alluded to people submitting footage “that wasn’t what happened”).
But some Salida residents have said that when they called, they were “cautioned” about filing “false reports” which may have contributed to a reluctance to file.
“We’re looking at it…but how would people feel if we do something and get a consequence that makes things worse…” concluded Shore.
Robin NeJame then requested to respond to the Mayor. She first asked if the media were present, wanting to be “off the record”. While a competitor publication was not present, Ark Valley Voice was there and responded saying, “Sorry, this is on the record…Ark Valley Voice…it’s a public meeting.” With that identification, NeJame said she would “hold on to her thoughts”.
Clearly there is no simple answer to this issue. But after the meeting, according to one downtown business owner, the problem is unlikely to magically disappear without some kind of intervention and solutions need to be pursued.
Again at the city level, Parks and Recreation Director Diesel Post reminded attendees that the F Street survey is still open until November 27 and can be accessed here. Opinions on keeping, changing or eliminating the F Street Plaza in summertime have been all over the map according to Post, but are top of mind for the downtown business owners who are already thinking about 2024 budgets and their summer plans. The city intends to hold a work session (possibly in December), to consider the final input from the survey and all stakeholders.
Post also related the continuing challenge of maintaining public restrooms in light of public safety and homeless person pressures. He asked for email feedback as to the acceptability of Porta Potties, screened in metal, designed to be less visually jarring, while encouraging proper use. The Scout Wave will undergo another modification in January and Post cautioned that “”it will take more concrete to ‘tame it up’ as well as add a boat chute.”
CMC and internships
Fred Maxwell runs the intern program for CMC. He related that there are 130 local businesses signed up to work with interns; 26 high school interns are currently involved and 42 have signed up for next semester.
CMC Board liaison David Armstrong added that college enrollment is up 10 percent and concurrent/Salida High School enrollment is up 19 percent. He referred to the city housing crisis and allowed that CMC students are generally adults who work and study and who need housing, He expressed hope that CMC could partner with the city to help with that.
In other news
More than 15 business owners representing more than a dozen businesses, both downtown and on Hwy 50, took turns introducing themselves, each to a round of applause.
Updates were provided on upcoming events such as the annual Parade of Lights at 6:00 p.m. on Nov. 24. Santa and a Salida fire engine will pause at Sackett and F Streets to light up the Christmas Mountain Tree, followed by fireworks and Santa’s visit with children in Riverside Park.
One week later, the newly revived “First Friday”, an “Arts and Chocolate” event in Salida’s downtown galleries and shops of the Creative District is scheduled for December 1. Ark Valley Voice will provide additional coverage of these and other seasonal events as details are finalized.
Nicole Balun reported on the highly successful annual Food Drive held at Su Casa Furniture & Sleep Shop.
“We received so much more food this year than last year and all the prior years.” In addition to boxes of donations, Balun was especially moved by several individuals, “doing what they could.” She said that one man with needs of his own brought a single can and a pair of cyclists made a special trip to the grocery store to pick up food for the drop-off, even though they were just passing through town.
City clarifies South Ark deed restrictions
Wrapping up the hour, Salida Community Development Director Bill Almquist provided clarification to recent media reports about workforce housing at the South Ark Neighborhood. Addressing the complex subject, Almquist explained that at the end of the day, the project needs to “pencil out” and be economically viable overall, especially considering up to $15 million in infrastructure that will be required even before the first unit is built.
Without the benefit of charts and detailed data in front of him, Almquist broke down the maximum number of the proposed (up to) 400 housing units into three “buckets”.
- 200 to be deed or covenant restricted as “affordable” for the local workforce, in perpetuity, in a mix of rental and for-sale units
- 100 to be at “market price”, available to anyone
- 100 units that will not income-driven, but prioritized for locals employed in the county and deed-restricted for five years
Almquist explained that the latter two categories are what make the overall project viable and help to partially subsidize the first group. Building costs are expected to be easily in the $300-$400 per square foot range for a 1,000-square-foot dwelling. Limiting the deed restriction period on the last group removes a barrier from those buyers who otherwise would never be able to sell and realize a gain.
Next month
“What’s Up Salida” is now held on the third Thursday of each month, bringing together members of the business community, education, county and local officials – anyone wanting to be in the know about Salida. A lot is happening in Salida and Thursday’s meeting proved again to be an efficient way to be “in the know” with those attending in person gaining even more than the highlights reported here.
The next meeting is scheduled for Dec. 21, although attendees are encouraged to watch for news in Ark Valley Voice of any holiday impacts on this date.
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Capacity Crowd Hears "What's Up Salida", Remarks by City and County Officials - by Merrell Bergin - The Ark Valley Voice
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