The first regular meeting of the city’s board of directors (BOTT) of the new year saw the entire board of directors, masked and in person.

With the exception of one item, the consent agenda was approved with little discussion. This included accounts payable with approved community grants, authorization from the city clerk to appoint municipal election judges, and several liquor license renewals.

Administrator Ben Bohmfalk noted that Mountain Waste’s overage fee payment has dropped significantly: $ 1,225 in December, down from around $ 4,000 at a time when many members of the public have commented. Complaints.

The item that was taken off the consent agenda for continued dialogue involved the reappointment of two members to the city’s Environmental Council: Patrick Hunter and Fred Malo. Hunter, in particular, was under scrutiny for actions that Mayor Dan Richardson considered to be contrary to the effectiveness and reputation of this council.

Several members of the Environmental Board vouched for Hunter’s reappointment, a move they unanimously approved. With the exception of Mayor Richardson, who replaced Trustee Heather Henry as the BOTT Liaison Officer to the Environment Council, all of the trustees voted to renew Malo and Hunter.

Several members of the public came forward during the public comment period, including two people discouraging directors from implementing a mask warrant, as well as a complaint about the speed of traffic on Merrill Avenue and the West Main intersection. Street and Hendrick Drive.

During administrator comments, Administrator Lani Kitching announced that she officially sits on the Colorado Wildlife Council and thanked Carbondale for taking on “unprecedented challenges” over the past four years, preparing her for ” thorny issues ”she will face in her new role.

One of the main items on the agenda for the week included voting language approval to put the replacement of the city’s aquatic center on the April ballot. According to the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR), voters must approve any increase in taxes or public debt in Colorado.

Wording that will appear on the April ballot calls for borrowing up to $ 8 million, without raising taxes, to build a new aquatic center to replace the existing one. This would be accomplished by using the existing half-cent tax that reimburses the recreation center (which is expected to be reimbursed in 2024). Unless withdrawn, the half-cent tax must be spent on the Parks and Recreation Department.

With a grant from Great Outdoors Colorado, the city hired a consultant to look at options and found the existing municipal pool beyond rehabilitation, with aging and deteriorating concrete.

“It’s up to us to make sure voters understand,” said administrator Erica Sparhawk. “These types of measures, as Heather pointed out, are confusing. TABOR does it on purpose. They capitalize everything to make it look like they’re yelling at you. Sparhawk focused on reflecting on current pool users: seniors, working classes, school groups, etc.

Without a plan to replace the aging pool, there could be “people in the rivers without access to swimming lessons,” Sparhawk said.

Then, the trustees approved the gradual implementation of the Eighth Street project, due to the rapid increase in construction costs. Acting City Manager Kevin Schorzman said the pressures driving up costs are unlikely to be eased for years. “Whatever the next Greek letter for COVID is, I don’t think it’s going to go away anytime soon,” he said.

The first phase of the work will focus on the west side of the street, where there is no continuous sidewalk. Traffic calming devices such as “bulbs” and bands will be implemented, as well as the installation of a six-foot sidewalk in 2022. The second phase will focus on the east side of the street.

Other actions taken by the board included appointing Administrator Marty Silverstein to the Garfield County Emergency Communications Authority board.

Finally, the 2022 Special Events Working Group schedule was unanimously approved, “if [events] align with public health orders at the time. The parks and recreation department has given up on Oktoberfest and Celtic Fest, seeking to focus on events that more clearly align with their mission of encouraging physical well-being. A fall festival has been planned for another group in mid-October.

Schorzman was thanked for his participation as interim city manager. “I never heard Kevin complain,” Richardson said. “[He] I’ve never missed a beat and have had two big jobs over the past few months.

Petitions are now available at Town Hall for those interested in running for one of the three directorships or the mayor’s seat, each for a four-year term. Completed petitions must be returned to the city clerk by 5 p.m. on January 24.