Another “action” packed meeting of the Alamosa City Council

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Members of Alamosa City Council and representatives from ValleyWide and SLV Behavioral Health following proclamation of May and Mental Health Month. Photo by Heather Brooks.

ALAMOSA – Wednesday night’s meeting of the Alamosa City Council was, yet again, a reflection of the number of significant topics being addressed by council members, ranging from the eligibility of property to be annexed by the city to Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons downtown.

Deacon Aspinwall, with the city’s Development Services Department, presented to council information regarding the eligibility of the property that is being considered for annexation by the city.

The property, known as Sierra Vista Addition No. 2, is located south of Craft Street along Highway 160 and constitutes, as Rachel Baird, director of Development Services puts it, “the city dipping its toe into facilitating the construction of across income housing.”

According to Baird, the housing development will have a variety of housing, ranging from multi-family housing to townhouses to single family residences.

In his presentation, Aspinwall described how the property more than satisfies eligibility requirements for annexation, specifically related to how much of the property is contiguous with property contained within city limits. The eligibility requirement is set at 1/6 of the property; the tract of land under consideration has 40% contiguity with land within city limits.

Aspinwall further emphasized that the resolution to be voted on in council did not address the decision to annex the property or not; instead, an aye vote would simply pass the resolution saying the property is eligible.

Council member Michael Carson asked about the purpose of annexing the property. Aspinwall responded that annexation, if approved, would allow for the construction of water and sewer lines on the land.

Carson’s follow up question related to an area in Ward Three of the city, a neighborhood commonly known as Washington Addition, that had been seeking to have amenities provided by the city for some time. Carson was questioning if the property at Sierra Vista, which could potentially have a higher market value, was getting preferential treatment from the city.

Heather Brooks, city manager, clarified what annexation, if approved, would mean for the company seeking to build Sierra Vista Addition No. 2, stating that it is up to the developer to pay for the creation of curbs, gutters and paving of roads. That was not the city’s obligation to do so, and the city has the requirement that any developer agree to include that in their construction if they wished to develop land within city limits for housing.

She also stated that, in the area Caron was referring to, the city had done an “emergency annexation” as the residents were in immediate need of clean, uncontaminated drinking water that could not be provided without the installation of city water and sewer lines. The fact that the roads in the area remain unpaved is a function of the property previously being under county regulations, which has different requirements for construction of housing.

In short, the company wanting to develop Sierra Vista was not being given any special or additional consideration other than what had previously been afforded to the property in Ward Three.

Council member Charlie Griego complimented Carson for being an advocate for those individuals living in Ward Three, adding, “We’re taking land with chico brush and trash that’s been dumped and developing for houses. We’ve talked about needing housing, and this does that.”

Griego then made a motion to approve Resolution No. 10-2022 “A Resolution Finding Sierra Vista No. 2 To Be Eligible For Housing”. The resolution was approved unanimously with Mayor Coleman abstaining.

Council also recognized Rachel Baird for her work in obtaining a $1.2 million grant from Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) for construction of the Hunt Avenue Culture Trail which will run from the area near Cole Park to downtown. Designed to incorporate historic signage and distinctive artwork reflecting the diversity of cultures, the purpose of the trail is to encourage people already in that area – for example, the more than 600 “rodders and street car enthusiasts” from a number of states who attend the Early Iron Festival each year – to walk along the trail to downtown instead of driving.

No matching funds were required for the grant.

Both Brooks and Baird were up again in presenting to council the latest update on Main Street, specifically related to installation of Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFB) slated to be installed at four designated intersections downtown.

RRFBs have been proven to greatly enhance pedestrian safety, which has been an ongoing consideration in the ongoing revitalization of downtown Main Street with the encouragement to use the intersections to cross the street being integrated into both design and construction. The beacons will be installed at four intersections: Hunt and Main, Sixth and Hunt, San Juan and Main, and San Juan and Sixth. In further encouragement to use the designated intersections equipped with RRFBs, the department of transportation is requiring the city to remove ADA ramps, deliberately directing those who would normally use the ramps to go to an intersection that is controlled by the flashing beacons – all as a measure to greater ensure pedestrian safety.

A date for installation will be determined once decisions have been finalized around what additional design features, if any, will be incorporated.

Finally, city council passed proclamations honoring the contributions of those individuals working in public works and associated with behavioral health.

In a proclamation setting May 15 to May 21 as National Public Works Week and honoring the invaluable contributions of those involved with public works, Mayor Ty Coleman read, “…infrastructures, facilities, and services could not be provided without the dedicated efforts of public works professionals, who are federally mandated first responders, and the engineers, managers, and employees at all levels of government and the private sector, who are responsible for rebuilding, improving, and protecting our nation’s transportation, water supply, water treatment and solid waste systems, public buildings, and other structures and facilities essential for our citizens.

“I urge all citizens to join with representatives of the American Public Works Association and government agencies in activities, events, and ceremonies designed to pay tribute to our public works professionals, engineers, managers, and employees and to recognize the substantial contributions they make to protecting our national health, safety, and quality of life.”

Also, in recognition of the importance – both to individuals and communities, at large – in promoting mental health and supporting prevention of mental illness, Mayor Ty Coleman declared May as “Mental Health Month” in Alamosa.

The proclamation, read by council member Kristina Daniel and signed by Mayor Coleman, reads, in part,

“Mental health is essential to everyone’s overall health and well-being. All Americans experience times of difficulty and stress in their lives; and prevention is an effective way to reduce the burden of mental health conditions.

“There is a strong body of research that supports specific tools that all Americans can use to better handle challenges, and protect their health and well-being. Mental health conditions are real and prevalent in our nation; and WHEREAS, with early and effective treatment, those individuals with mental health conditions can recover and lead full, productive lives.

“As the City Council, we also call upon the citizens, government agencies, public and private institutions, businesses and schools in Alamosa to recommit our community to increasing awareness and understanding of mental health, the steps our citizens can take to protect their mental health, and the need for appropriate and accessible services for all people with mental health conditions.”


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