Deacon Aspinwall

The meeting commenced with the Pledge of Allegiance and roll call, which established a quorum despite one councilor running late. The agenda was unanimously approved. Citizen comment included a presentation expressing concern over recent exposure deaths in the homeless population and a call for continued collaborative efforts to find solutions. Staff comment provided no input. Under Consent Calendar A, various items were unanimously approved. Regular business featured an annual update from Alamosa Creates, the city's official creative district committee. The update detailed their 2025 activities, including working on an action plan for state certification, hosting five community engagement sessions, reviewing art submissions for the Art Festival, supporting First Fridays, voting on a logo, and hosting an artist reception. They also discussed plans for 2026, such as launching a community input survey and working on a mural project with the Chamber. Council members expressed strong support for the committee's energy and progress. The council then conducted a public hearing and second reading for Ordinance Number 1-2026, approving an intergovernmental agreement regarding the Great Outdoors Colorado Trust Fund Generation Wild initiative, which passed unanimously. Following this, the council addressed the selection of a Mayor Pro Tem for a two-year appointment, discussing historical appointments. The final agenda item involved the appointment of members to the Citizen Street Advisory Committee, which was established to prioritize streets for upgrades ahead of the November election to extend the street sales tax. Applications were reviewed, interviews noted, and the appointments were approved unanimously, noting that a youth representative position remained unfilled.

The meeting addressed agenda items including the approval of the agenda, citizen comments, and a public hearing regarding Ordinance Number 26-2025, which proposes prohibiting the use of ground graywater and the installation of graywater treatment works within the city. Council and staff discussed the significant regulatory challenges and costs associated with graywater implementation. The Lead and Co-responder Quarterly Update was presented, highlighting successful outcomes for clients, including a testimony about comprehensive support provided to a pregnant individual using substances, resulting in a healthy birth and family stability. The update also noted the relocation of the co-responder team to the Martinez building, which involved substantial logistical effort.

The meeting commenced with the pledge of allegiance and roll call, noting an excused absence. Following agenda approval, citizen comments included an introduction from the regional representative for Senator Michael Bennett's office, who congratulated the city on receiving $500,000 in CDBG funds for the Alamosa Rehabilitation and Revitalization Project. A ceremonial item introduced Emily Martinez, the new finance department employee, while acknowledging the departure of Leanne. Consent Calendar A was approved unanimously. The Community Recreation Board provided its annual update, highlighting healthy program attendance with upticks in yoga and pickleball, upgrades to cardio equipment, and the completion of an ADA paved pathway at Leaffield Park. Goals for 2026 include updating the comprehensive plan with a focus on recreation, prioritizing community needs, and progressing on projects like the riverfront and dog park. The primary agenda item involved the first reading of Ordinance Number 4-2026, establishing Article Five regarding the Automated Vehicle Identification System (AVIS) for traffic enforcement, which entails a $40 fine for violations captured by photo radar. Finally, the council voted to appoint members to the Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee across various categories, including wards, housing, early childhood care, faith community, and economic development.

The City Council meeting commenced with the pledge of allegiance and roll call, establishing a quorum. Key discussions included the unanimous approval of the agenda and citizen comments, where a local business owner raised concerns regarding recent changes to the city's sign and lighting code, specifically concerning Kelvin color temperature limits, lumen caps, and inconsistent enforcement against legacy signage. Staff responded by acknowledging that the lumen restriction may be too restrictive and noted that the signage concerns, like the Spring Hill Suites project, would be part of an ongoing review. The council unanimously approved Consent Calendar A. Under regular business, the council reviewed the first reading of Ordinance Number 1, 2026, concerning an intergovernmental agreement for the 2026 through 2030 Great Outdoors Colorado Trust Fund Generation Wild Grant, which involves funding for outdoor activities. The council also addressed authorizing $5,000 in sponsorships to seven entities for various community events, adopting a new reimbursement-after-event structure for these funds. Finally, the City Manager presented on the launch of new public-facing websites (City main site, library, and parks and recreation) built on the Streamline platform, emphasizing improved navigation, accessibility compliance with HB21110, and better backend functionality. Staff also discussed upcoming staff versus council competitions for the Rio Frio Fest trophy.

The meeting included procedural items such as agenda approval, which passed unanimously, and a citizen comments period with no participants. A significant portion of the agenda involved ceremonial items, specifically recognizing the service of retiring Council member Jamie Dominguez, with multiple council members expressing appreciation for his dedication, leadership, and community focus. Following the recognition, the oath of office was administered to the Mayor, Council member Don, and Council member Mark, while Council member Yan's swearing-in was postponed until the next meeting. The consent agenda, including Consent Calendar A, was approved unanimously. During regular business, the Alamosa City Homeless Coalition provided its annual update, detailing modifications to St. Benedict's campsite rules (prohibiting unaccompanied youth), strong communication between the police force and street outreach, discussions on establishing free food pantries, updates on various housing projects, and support provided via transportation vouchers. The update also noted that 14 individuals were trespassed from the camp and highlighted the diligent work of community service officers in maintaining the camp.