City Council - Special Meeting

Do I have that?

Yeah, just quick last reminder if anybody would like to make public comment. Um, we have a signup sheet at the end of the divider there. Um, you have three minutes to to make up and and we're waiting for a few minutes. Our city clerk has to get something before we can officially start open the meeting here. shots. That was Really?

Who was it? I didn't want that. That's our husky invitational track. So, I will try to get there. I'll try to get there. I'm hoping to have I'm hoping to have the shot put down by Okay. I'll try to be there.

Okay. If not, I'll show up late for refreshment. Sometimes you got sunburned by sometimes you froze. Spectrum.

What is it? have to die. All right. Plug it. Unplug it.

Unplug it. Plug it back in. Let it reboot. There you go. Hey, if there's anybody. Okay,

we got everybody here. Call to order the Florence City Council meeting for Monday, April 6, 2026. Please rise for the pledge. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. First order of business, we have some presentations. I'd like to uh I need a roll call. Oh, roll call, please. Councelor Van Hton, here. Councelor Stifel here. Councelor Mgleman, here. Councelor Gardner here. Councelor Stone here. Councelor McKinnon

here. Mayor Wolf here.

Now we will have presentations. Um first I'd like to uh invite Stephanie Moses up to the the lect turn there. I'm going to read our our proclamation on sexual awareness and then if you'd like to say a few words, you're more than welcome to. Okay. Whereas April is sexual assault awareness month and calls attention to the fact that sexual violence is widespread and impacts every person in Fremont County. And whereas every day women, men, and children across Colorado suffer the pain and trauma of sexual assault upon survivors and our communities. And whereas this crime occurs far too frequently, goes unreported far too often, and leaves long lasting physical and emotional scars. And whereas during National Sexual Assault Awareness Month, we recommmit ourselves to lifting the veil of secrecy and shame surrounding sexual violence, expanding support for victims and strengthening our response. And whereas sexual violence affects individuals of all ages, backgrounds, and circumstances. Whereas as a community, we share the responsibility for protecting each other from sexual assault, supporting victims when it does occur, and bringing perpetrators to justice. And whereas at every level, we must work to provide necessary resources to victims of every circumstances, including medical attention, mental health services, relocation, and housing assistance, and advocacy during the criminal justice process. And whereas Florence, Colorado can come together to increase awareness about sexual violence, decrease its frequency, hold offenders accountable, support victim, and heal lives. Now therefore, be it resolved that I, Steve Wolf, mayor of the city of Florence, Colorado, do hereby proclaim April as

sexual assault awareness month in the city of Florence, Colorado, and hereby urge the community to work together to educate themselves about sexual violent prevention to support survivors and speak out against harmful attitudes and actions.

I just want to talk a little bit about family crisis. Crisis is a nonprofit organization. We're located in Canyon City. Sorry, we're located in Canyon City and we support Kuster County and Fremont County. We provide services like safe housing for those in need to flee. We do legal paperwork support and we also provide counseling and much more. Last year alone, we supported 347 new survivors. We took 1,210 crisis calls and we also provided 1,477 nights of shelter per person per night. Um, and if anyone needs support, if you or someone you know, they can always call our 247 um, crisis line at 7192752429. Thank you.

Thank you. Um, do we want to get a photo right there? Sure. How about Okay. Okay. Next is the Arbor Day proclamation. Whereas in 1872, J. Sterling Morton proposed to the Nebraska Board of Agriculture that a special day be set aside for the planting of trees. And whereas this holiday called Arbor Day was first observed with planting of more than 1 million trees in Nebraska. And whereas Arbor Day is now observed throughout the nation and the world. And whereas trees can reduce erosion of our precious top soil by wind and water, cut heating and cooling cost, moderate the temperature, clean the air, produce oxygen, and provide habitat for wildlife. And whereas trees are a renewable resource, giving us paper, wood for our homes, fuel for our fires, and countless other wood products. And whereas trees in our city increase property values, enhance the economic vitality of our business areas and beautify our community. And whereas trees, wherever they are planted, are a source of joy and spiritual renewal. And whereas the city of Florence has been recognized as Tree City USA by the National Arbor Day Foundation Association. Now therefore be it resolved that I, Steve Wolf, mayor of the city of Florence, Colorado, do hereby proclaim April 16th, 2026 as

Arbor Day in the city of Florence, Colorado, and urge all citizens to celebrate and support efforts to protect our trees and woodlands. Thank you. Um, no one signed up for public con comment. So, we'll move to consent agenda. Um, consent agenda items A through J. Approving uh minutes, expenditures, uh, liquor renewal license for Big D's, the patio pub, Florence Brewing Company, a modification, uh, premises for the Florence Brewing Company. uh selecting applicant for the vacant position of planning commission, the accepting the sidewalk assessment, and entering into a multi-year contract for digital records management. At this time, would any of the council members like to pull any one of those items? I would like to pull item I for further discussion. Okay. Any other? All right. Thank you. We have a motion to approve consent agenda items A through H and J.

I'll make a motion we approve consent agenda A B CDE E F G H and J. Do we have a second? I'll second that. All in favor? I I.

Any opposed? All right. Motion carries. Item I consider accepting the sidewalk assessment conducted by Three Rocks Engineering City Manager. Thank you, council. Uh, as you know, on November 17th of last year, we had a workshop determining and a focus on establishing a structure and long-term sidewalk program. That first step was to get an assessment of actually what our sidewalks were like, what shape they were in, and evaluated based on an engineer and an evaluation um by that qualified engineer. So, we went into contract with Three Rocks Engineering. They have completed the assessment project. Um, now we can work towards that foundation just like we did with our sidewalk, our street assessment. Uh, and now we can align that. We can allow us to maintain our consistency in those projects. Um, this would also help us catalog the state of the sidewalks to consider programs. Example would be uh city funded projects, CIPs, um, grants long-term. Right now this um there is no financial obligation or impact. This will just give us future programs based on engineered uh plans. Um and we could use that to fulfill our 2026 budgeted money and plan for the future. Um so you did get a copy of the sidewalk assessment um and a small PowerPoint kind of rolling it all up. Um the There is a big a big one that lists out every single one. Uh I didn't include that because that would be something we would look at in

the workshop and go through each one. But what I do think is important is that uh we know exactly how many sidewalks. So 120,000 square feet of sidewalks. Um, we had 74,000 that were rated as good. Rated as fair to good were 7,000 rated as fair, 14,000 rated as fair to poor 8,500 and rated as for uh poor was 15,000. So if you kind of put it in numbers beyond that, so 25 out of 64 are high priority sidewalks and streets. 14 out of 64 are our medium priority and 25 out of 64 are low priority. So, uh kind of gives us an idea on where to go, where to start, how that funding looks like, how an ordinance or a change. But that is not what I'm asking you now. What I'm asking you now is to accept the assessment so then we can start the planning process. Does

council have any questions, comments? I I just like to thank the city for the process that we're going through here. It's not just a shotgun pick a pick a sidewalk. You know, there there's a real process here. Appreciate that. And I I do want to note this the the street assessment was um was a very encumbent piece of work because there's a lot more engineering that went into it. So, I think this one is pretty easy to read based on the red, yellow, and green and uh the bunches of sidewalk and what was used for that. So, I think it this is a great plan for us to move forward and determine what what they did. I think three rocks did a really good job.

Okay. Thank you. Any questions, comments? Someone make a motion to approve the sidewalk assessment. I'll make a motion to accept the sidewalk assessment. City of Florence, Colorado as conducted by Three Rocks Engineering and Surveying. Do we have a second? I'll second. All in favor? I. Any opposed? All right. Motion carries. All right. New business. We have two items. First item is considering approving resolution number 4, 2026 allowing a salvage yard in Washington's quarter. Uh, city planner, please.

Good evening, council. Um George Clark, the owner of the property at 551 South Union Street, is seeking approval to establish a um salvage charge on the site, including the construction of a 20x60 building. Um this building is intended to support the operation as well as potential uh to include a workman's a watchman's quarters. Um the planning commission met on February 26th, 2026 um and voted unanimously in favor of the special use review application recommending to city council for final approval. Um do you have any questions pertaining to the staff comments? Any kind of discussion you would like to I've got one on here. It says um the applicant attends to request a variance for the board of zoning appeals to wave the requirement for pave parking landscape sidewalks curb and gutter.

Yes sir. So if if we accept this as it is right now he or they would be required to have that. Um they have the option of either going to boza or not. They it's a development issue. Um this is actually for the permission to have the the project. Um it not necessarily it's a Bose's decision whether they grant that or not. Okay. You were talking about the sidewalk around the facility.

Yeah. Well, it says they they were going to go to Boza about having to pave having curb and gut. I think the closest existing sidewalk to that property is got to be a half a mile or so. Yes. Okay. Okay. Any other questions? Okay. Do we need have any don't think we need to have any comments by the If you would like to speak with them, you absolutely can. Um does anybody have any questions or desire to hear from? No. Sounds like none. Okay. Thank you. Okay. Someone like to make a motion? Sure.

Um I recommend that city council approve resolution number 4-2026, a resolution approving a salvage yard and watchman's quarters as a use by special review located at 551 South Union Street. Do we have a second? I'll second. Roll call, please. Councelor Stone, yes. Councelor Vanhton, yes. Councelor Stiffel, yes. Councelor Mgleman, yes. Councelor Gardner, yes. Councelor McKinnon, yes. Mayor Wolf, yes. Congratulations there. Get get that approved.

Okay. The next item, consider adopting resolution 52026. Uh, resolution approving a salvage yard. Oh, no. I was waiting for the problem. Yeah, there we go.

Okay, I got it right here. Uh, number five, 2026, a resolution establishing a drought response plan for the city of Florence, Colorado. Um, I just want to say beforehand, this is actually a an update to our current drought response plan that we have on on record and staff's been working really really hard at this considering our current and projected state of water uh throughout the whole state of Colorado. Um, we will be opening it up to public comment if there is any. Um, but I would caution about getting too detailed or too much in the weeds on it. Um, because hopefully we're we'll be having some town halls and and real good communications on this which the city planner will lead. All right. See you manager.

Thank you, council. I came down here because um I think uh Brandon will probably have to join me on some of the questions. So, I'm going make it easier for him. Um, as uh as you stated, Mr. Wolf, this is an update to our current water uh resolution for our conservation plan. The previous conservation plan was dated from 2003. Now, there was um a plan that was worked through between there, but was never adopted by council. So, it was really important to us to get an updated one, get it in front of you, and one that works for 2026. So, um, I'd like to start by appreciating Brandon and Tom and Kiana, uh, and Courtland. Um, we worked really hard on this because it's really, uh, very important to us all. Um, and in the state of the water right now with the water storage and the snow and all that, it's it's really important. So, we are asking you to adopt and establish the drought response plan for the city of Florence as presented. So the city of the city's water supply is not only vulnerable to conditions on the Arkansas River and legally binding water calls, but it had also increasingly threatened by current environmental stresses, including ongoing regional drought patterns, heightened wildfire activity in surrounding areas, and elevated fire restriction levels issued by local fire authorities. This updated plan provides a clear phased structure for how the city responds to these combined risks, ensuring the continued protection of public health, safety and economic stability. This plan introduces four

drought levels and this is not new. The uh original plan had drought levels. Um so the key uh there are four elements to this. There are clear drought triggers. Each drought level is automatically initiated by a specific priority water call dated along the Arkansas River. Uh tiered conservative measures increing increasing restrictions on outdoor watering, commercial operations, hydrant usage, parks, pools, and other demands on conditional as the condition worsens. tiered financial measures establishing excess water usage rate increases on city utility bills, bulk station users as water conservation continues uh conditions increase. And a little background, Florence holds one of the oldest and most senior municipal water rights on the Arkansas River through the Union ditch priority of November 30th, 1861. This right provides the city with nearly all of its municipal water supply. And because it is a senior municipal diversion on the river, a call on this right has never occurred and would likely be a short-lived if it ever did. While this long-standing priority status offers Florence a measure of protection during river shortages, it does not exempt the community from being responsible with their water management. Senior rights are a privilege, but they do not guarantee unlimited security. Even with our advant advantage position, this city must remain a good steward of all of our resources, conserve during periods of stress, and plan proactively to support regional water stability, wildfire readiness, and long-term resilience. And I think we just seen an example of that. So the financial me measures for this

would be uh the city's water billing system is built around a standard monthly minimum of 3500 gallons for every customer. The minimum amount required remains unchanged in all drought stages so residents can continue to meet their essential household needs. When a customer uses more than 3,500 gallons in a month, the additional water is charged at a higher drought stage rate. These excess uses rates increase depending on the severity of the drought. A 20% increase during level two, a 100% increase level three, and a 200% increase during level four. This structure helps encourage conservation during critical periods while ensuring that basic water needs remain affordable and protected. So, um it's important to note that this plan is focused on conservation, information, training, and education. Um right now, even in our old plan, we're in tier one or phase one. So conservation right now what we need to be doing is getting ready for any other additional phases. By by doing this we get people used to using that minimum use. Any questions?

I've had two questions people have asked me. One is about untreated water versus treated water. How many customers do we have that use untreated water? Raw raw water. Raw water. Two as of right now. Um, contractually, uh, with a South Reservoir project, we allotted Alan Gordon the use of raw water for construction purposes and dust suppression at, uh, 100,000 gallons a year, which is not a lot of water.

When you think we produce millions of gallons a day, 100,000 gallons of water is is a drop in the bucket. And that's a per year. Uh the only other raw water bulk user we have right now is Kuster County who only uses that for uh road maintenance. So So it's minimal. And then the last one would be the golf course. Yeah. Sumo golf course. Correct. Yeah. Sorry about that. And that is another contract. Um and it does it does talk about the golf course raw water in the plan. So that there is stages that they'll have to follow. Okay. So they're they're down in one of the tiers where it would affect them

to where they would have their water pulled. The other question I keep getting I've been have had several ask me about bulk water. Does it come down to as of right now anybody can pull in and fill up the bulk water? Would that hold true?

That is a that's a great question Rud. We are going to implement a new program at the bulk station. one we have been hesitant to do, but uh we're changing that now. We have the ability to turn on a PIN for the bulk station. It'll still be credit card, but we are going to start phasing out to get every user has to have a PIN. The PIN is going to be registered based on their address and then it's in the plan where they fall within that bulk water. So, we will start that effectively when the plan is is is approved. somebody just can't come in off the highway. Not anymore. If this is approved,

as of right now, that that can happen and

in a normal year, we welcome that uh for for bulk water sales. But uh by implementing this this PIN system, um it's going to lock up the station until you put your PIN in and then you'll be able to purchase water and swipe your card. to uh to get a PIN. Um you simply have to come and and just prove your uh physical residence um address and uh and then come stage three, we will limit the bulk water station to just our immediate surrounding areas. So our surrounding zip codes, you know, from here to Canyon to Wetmore, uh, Penrose area and Rockville,

Rockville. Yes. All of our immediate area. So let's say outside users in between Canyon and Salida, they're going to have to go to Canyon or Salida. Uh, we're going to be servicing just our area. Then come level four, pull water sales cease. Is there any is there any restriction on what the bulk water can be used for? I think I don't know how you police that.

Um the policing is the difficult part of it. Um it will be posted and encouraged for these residents uh these outside residents bullwater users to follow the same type of restrictions and conservation methods that we entail because they will be also seeing the price increases at at every stage every tier level in in the drought plan.

Will will there be a I said somebody really drilled me on this. Will there be a limit to how much a person can take a day or a week or a month? As of right now, no. Um they well they're limited to 2,000 gallons at our at our bulk station. Um anything over that currently we call uh commercial bulk water customers and they fill up at a different location. And the tiers uh talk about that as well as far as they they fill up at a hydrant. So they they use a hydrant meter. There's uh at at I believe it's tier two that's restricted and then tier three I think that is cut out the hydrant use

uh so those bigger users will be cut out as well and Kiana will be leading that uh effort to get those pins in and uh that will also help for letting them know where they are. So right now we have no way to send out information. And if you all remember when the bulk station went out, there was really no way to let some of these guys know until they got there. So, this may help us also with notifying um them. So, this is definitely and a lot of the Bulkwater customers we can reach. Uh while we've we had advertised for a an extended period of time for them to sign up for constant contact,

um a lot of them because of the the outage last year, um they know some of the places they can get this information regarding the water at the Bwater Station, the city website, signing up for constant contact, which many have. So, we'll be able to get that information out there. We also have a kiosk at the Bullwater Station where where we'll be posting all of this and and Laura, you said we went we went on level one today. As of this morning, yes, the Coal Creek was called. Yes. and and we're on level one according to even to our old plan. Correct. Okay.

So, what triggers each level water call priority dates. So, with uh where they pull and this is where Brandon's going to come in because it's when they can pull and how much they can pull off the river. That's

uh so water a call on the river has to go off of priority dates. Priority dates are the dates that are assigned to decreed water rights. For instance, Florence's um most senior water rights or second most senior water rights on the Arkansas for sure most senior municipal water right on the Arkansas has a priority date of uh November 30th, 188 1861, excuse me. Um, and so our senior water rights allow allow us to continue to pull water until a more senior water right puts a call in the river, then then everybody junior has to stop pumping uh or or taking water. So as as the call on the river gets more and more senior, that's what triggers the the next level in this drought response plan.

And on the plan, each section tells you which call date uh that is triggered. This is a concrete way to say this is this is where we're at. So I guess to further explain, Tammy, it

it's confusing. It it is confusing. Uh but basically um someone with senior water rights says I was here first. I have you know first rights to the water. Then the next person in line goes well I'm here second. I got second rights to the water. So on and so forth where someone coming in 20 years ago for instance we have some more junior water rights that have a priority date of 1980. Uh I believe it is right the current Yeah.

Um and so those are those are never in priority. The call on the river is always more senior than that. So we can never pump those water rights. Uh we might have been able to back in 99 for a very short period of time um when there was a free river but uh that's very very very few and far between. So, so are you in communication with um other municipalities when they call the water so you will know ahead of time or is it just a surprise?

Uh it's not in communication with others as far as as our triggers for our tier levels. Um it is daily every morning we have to on our water accounting spreadsheets we have to uh put on the that days priority call on the river. So we are checking it every morning 7 days a week 365 days a year. Uh so that uh that is something that the water commissioner um for this division in the Arkansas River Valley uh will it he posts it daily um if there's a new call. if there's not a new call. Uh there was one call that went from it was the same call, same date from uh November 15th of last year or November 30th, something like that, all the way to There we go.

There we go.

So, those are the call dates. One of the bottom ones is from last year. Uh and it was the same until the middle of March when the new a new call date came in. uh that was more senior. So that is what we look at every morning to get the current river call date. And so when that says well like this morning um that very top one in the priority date column is older than the trigger for tier one in our our drought response plan. So that means we are now in tier one. I don't know if this is helpful, but also just maybe for context, I some of these uh phases when you're getting more towards the three or the four, I mean, I think you will be seeing changes across the landscape, governor's office, news. Um, you will probably be able to tell, oh my gosh, we're not in a great situation. You may not be able to trigger the exact date of the call, but you it won't be catching people by surprise, I don't think. But please correct me if I'm wrong.

Yes. And it's also important to note when we look at our call date, this is uh we're got the what the fourth the fourth oldest well according to Dan Henrik's our water commissioner uh in a meeting we had with him two weeks ago. Um there's only one other uh water right on the Arkansas that is more senior than ours and It's a farmer up Harts Gravel Creek. But yeah, but but it's not a mu it's not municipal use. It's not a municipal. So we have the number one municipal rights.

And it has been said that it has to be proven to officially be called this. But if that if you were to put a call on the river to tell Florence to stop pumping, it has been said that it could be analyzed and assumed that it would be a futile call and uh it wouldn't affect us. Has anybody projected what tier they think we might get to this summer? You heard or Well, Rud, we are hopeful. Um, we've had lots of conversations.

Some extended forecasts have have made us hopeful. Um, it certainly could be worst case scenario. Uh, but I'd like to remind everybody we had some similar, not as bad as we're at in the shape now, but similar conditions back in 99, I believe it was.

And we had a a late uh El Nino, I think they called it, uh, in in April. and our conditions bettered significantly. Uh so that's that's something we we need to hope for. Um I will be the first one to volunteer for a rain dance if anybody wants to get out there with me. So come join me.

And it's important to note that uh Brandon looks at these every day. So, as we're going into these tiers, we've came up with a system to where we're tracking those because the rates as you go into two and three and four, they're all based on that rate. And once that rate has changed, it's staying for the month. So, it's very important that we're tracking these, keeping track of them, and that we're very transparent with the citizens so they know exactly where they're at. That's why level one is about conserving and learning to be within that 3500. So, we're also looking at investing into some shower low flow showers that we can pass out to citizens. Um, we're making an information uh site on our website for conservation. So, it's it goes beyond what's in here. It's what else we're going to do.

Public outreach. Public outreach. We're going to do training and all kinds of uh town halls so that it's every day I'll probably be talking about water somewhere somehow someway. Brandon, what's our poll for the 1861 water? How much how much water can we pull? Uh that's 7.6 cfs. And and Lori, can residents look up on the website how much water they've used each as they as you go along like each week of a month so to see where they're at.

Great question. But no, they cannot. But you know what they can do? They can call Kiana Hes and she has up-to-date uh census metering material and she will be more than happy to. This will be a big deal for her. Yep. You know what? We're ready. We're ready. Just we ask citizens be patient, leave a message. Kiana will stay here and she does a great job of calling people back. If not, put it on 81226 and I'll run down there and I'll help her. My staff and I will help. We will help with that as well. Yeah. And I think we ought to encourage citizens too to go back and evaluate their water use. Absolutely. For the past couple years, how much do they, you know, did they ever get past the minimum in the winter?

Y Well, if they never got past Yeah. if they never got past the minimum in the winter, they know, you know, that that normal household stuff, you know, they're not going to get above it. And then compare that to what they do in the summer for their lawns and their gardens, you know, and that's where the citizens can start to plan and help conserve. and Kiana can pull a lot of good reports to help them just reach out, you know, and if we do get into these major ones, maybe we plan some days where come on down, we'll sit and get your reports and me and Keon will sit there and help you.

Invoice cloud, good one. Invoice cloud is our new uh system that has some of that options in there, too. Call us. We'll help you walk through that. Uh there are a couple um updates. Uh if you choose to pass, please uh pass it with deleting uh page uh 8's graph and nine's language for level four bulk water. Um we will have to update that that there's some typos in that. So Dan, if you can help with that language. Yeah, I would just say I mean to the extent you dug into the very details these are minor corrections but on page eight uh the sentence starting with outside bulk water users uh I believe the proposal is to remove it entirely and then there's a correlating uh table on page nine at the top that would also need an adjustment to reflect that.

You don't need to state that in your motion. You can just say I we're for the record. We just stated the proposed changes and you can make your motion as pres as presented as the last part right here.

And I I'd like to say one last thing. I would like to thank Tom Pilton. Uh he is instrumental in his historical knowledge and passing it on to uh to staff to continue to upgrade and know and make great plans. our I'm going to say it pioneers did a great job setting us up on these water rights and doing all of the things in the water. Uh but sometimes it gets lost when we don't get that knowledge. So Tom, thank you. He is he's a gem. Okay, any more questions? Sorry,

I do. When are you going to fill the pool? And do you think everything's good there? Right. Right now it is. Um we uh there is the pool is in one of the triggers. Yeah, I see that. Yes. Um fought for

So we as long as we're not in a trigger, it will be it will be filled. Um the thing I've learned about the pool is once you fill it, it's just tapping it off. Uh so we will it's it's a go. Um, if it changes, we will make sure everybody knows immediately. The plan is to have that. That's all the kids got. We've got big plans for it, but uh, we also have to save our water. So, right now, it's a go. Could change. We are in the process of hiring all of the staff and getting the pool ready. So, Tammy, I I wish I wish I could give you more of an answer than that. Y

two

I understand we have senior water rights um starting then in 1861 what about other municipalities on up to Leadville because Leadville is where the Arkansas starts. Nobody nobody senior marvelous senior right okay gotcha I'm not sure of any specific priority dates okay

because yesterday uh Grand County where I lived forever um it's on the continental divide and it feeds from the Colorado River to the front range. They said that they were seriously considering going to their severe drought three. So, so you might want to check on that. Okay. Thank you, Sue. Thank you. That's good information. Yeah. I think I think you're going to find this is going to be elevated to a regional and state level very very quickly. So, Okay. No, the media won't be No. Yeah.

Okay. Do we have any other questions from councel? Okay. We have a motion to approve resolution 5-2026. I move to adopt resolution 52026. A resolution establishing a drought response plan for the city of Florence, Colorado, including the affformentioned changes. We have a second. I'll second. Roll call, please. Councelor Stiflel, yes. Councelor Gardner, yes. Councelor Vanhton, yes. Councelor Mglleman, yes. Councelor Stone, yes. Councelor McKinnon, yes. Mayor Wolf,

yes. Again, thank you to all staff members hard work they put into this and and I know we're going to be looking at how to get that information out to the public, educate. Okay, we'll go from there. All right, council reports. Uh Brenda, I just want to thank the city for the retreat last week. It was very informative and I learned a lot and thank you.

Uh same here. I I think the retreat was very positive. I think we all got some good feedback out of it and it was a unique time to interact with the council and administration. Uh I did attend a Pioneer Day board that's going well this year and a BOSA board the other night. Matt,

I attended the Ward 2 town hall with Tammy and the rest of city staff. It was a a fantastic event. Good questions, good people there. It was nice to get some input from the public. I would also like to thank the water department for their assistance with the airport whenever the 24 fire was going in Fort Carson. Uh we needed some assistance getting a wrench called Brandon 15 minutes we had it. So always ready to help anytime we need their assistance. So thank you. Tammy. Uh, yeah, we had a good war two meeting. Um, we had a few citizens show up, but we'll maybe have another one and see if we can get some more people to show up.

Okay, again, um, likewise on on the retreat. And that's it. Okay, James,

same on the retreat. Thank you for the city to put that on. Very informational. I think that was really good good for us all to Um, I stopped by senior coffee a couple times, stopped by the W 2 town hall. Um, again, thanks again for that city council retreat. It was beneficial. Attended the regional water meeting. Um, that was good. Um, attended a Fremont sanitation district meeting and they're going to get involved in this in some ways too with the with the water issues. Um, and I attended a meeting with city staff, Rockville, and the district water commissioner. Okay. City manager,

I would like to say that I uh the the retreat was fantastic. It was a nice collaboration to get everybody on the same page. I really enjoyed that. Um, I think that is something that is so valuable when we're looking at direction. So valuable. But I'm a little upset because I really think that we are the winners of the trivia. We were, just so you know, um, I have a couple thank yous uh that we would that me and Brandon would like to do. Uh, so if I could get Miguel TZ and I hope I say that right, Miguel and Anthony Bosco, if you guys could come on up. These guys look like water guys. They all have the same same strut. Um, all right. So, as you guys know, as you all know, because we were out passing out water, we had our water leaks uh during that week. Well, these two gentlemen uh helped us. They're from Canyon City Water. Um Mc actually, Brandon, I'm gonna let you do this

because I it is not mine to do. Well, it's not for everybody.

I I'll make this short and sweet. Um, just as a as a matter of record, uh, these two guys specifically helped us that evening, uh, when we were in need of some material to fix a a large water main leak. Um, they work for Canyon City. But I I do want to say not only these guys in the past, but Canyon City has never ceased, never refused to help us in situations like this. This is we try not to make it a very common thing, but anytime we say, "Hey, do you have a part we can borrow till we get one in?" Uh they never hesitate to to help us out. Uh so we just wanted to show our appreciation uh to these two guys um with Canyon Water Distribution and uh let them know that we appreciate it and even without an official intergovernmental agreement, we can help each other out and and uh pay each other back. So,

thank you guys. And I'm going to say this, it's a little This is This is what I see, guys, is that we had citizens who could have been without water for a lot longer, but because you guys stepped in and got us our pipe and saved Brandon and the crew from having to go get it, because you guys did all that, brought it and let us use yours. Um, our citizens were out of water for very less time. So, uh, you didn't have to do that. Our citizens thank you. We thank you. It's a big deal. And anytime that you need us, we're there.

I just to say I I've known Brad for a while now and uh I can guarantee that if we were in a bind and city of Florence had the parts, they would do the same for us. We absolutely would. Rural communities love them. Uh all right. So Miguel, what do you do? Miguel, you're the on call, right? operator. He just came on call to help us, too. And Anthony on call right now. Oh, and then uh Anthony, you're the supervisor, right?

Yes. So, so thank you guys. We we appreciate it. We're better together. So, Steve, if we could get a picture They're all Thank you very much. Lori, anything else?

Yes. All right.

All right. So, I wanted to give a couple updates. Sam, Sam is retiring. If you don't know yet, I'm spilling the beans. Sam has been with the city for over 35 years. He has given tirelessly to the Florence citizen, the Florence citizen, excuse me, probably that too. Um Sam is the epitome of a servant leader. They could write a book about him. He puts everything above himself. and for the first time he could be fishing and doing what he wants to do. We are forever grateful, Sam, for you. And just like Tom, you'll never really leave us. So, um we uh we'll miss you, but I know I'll turn around and you'll be standing there looking through my snacks. Um but on another note, Sam started um as a laborer, just a young kid, trash guy, just working his way. Um so you also show there's opportunity and growth and what hard work can do. And I am so proud uh to known you. And Sam, when I first started here, he was so kind to me on code enforcement. He would go with me and we'd get skunks off the side of the road. He would He was the only one that would help me and he'd go, "Kid, come on." And he would help me. So, um, he uh I am so happy that you're going to get to enjoy some time because that's all we have. So,

uhhuh. Yeah. Well, you're definitely leaving holy boots for him. So Sam doesn't like to get new boots.

Yeah. Yeah. Yep. And Sam is part of the transition. So we really did work it to honor Sam, get some transition time. Uh so we do not want to be here you go, jump in the fire. We are over that. So Sam is a huge part of the transition and will help and uh that person whoever it may be we have it posted on the website and LinkedIn. Um we've got some applica applications I'm super excited for. Um and we will make sure we pick somebody that can keep the hit the ground running Sam just like us.

Yep. Yep. Yep. Yep.

Yep.

Yep. Yep. and you have some good good people that have been around a long time in that department. That'll be it'll be good. So, you know, check your fishing off your list. Um all right. Um just uh a couple updates. Um uh next council you'll get the uh new debt retirement rates. Um and just a little peek into that. Steve, you already know this from the regional water, but we did pay off two major uh a loan and a debt bond. So that's very exciting. So, I'm very excited to talk about that because I get that asked every day. When when are the bonds going to be done? So, uh that's exciting news coming. Next week, we will be having our our financial audit will be comp uh conducted next week. Um very happy to have that over and done with. And then Brandy will be taking over. Uh Brandy will be presenting financials next council. So, she's gonna jump right into that. Um let's see uh the 2007 we're the rate study that was part of our CIP program. We have decided with some help uh between Tom, myself, Brandon and Courtland. We found the rate model from 2017. Um so we're going to work through that and I think we could use that and save us uh that cost of doing it out out of house. Um, and it's really truly that's what a rate survey is, is just putting the numbers in the the model. So, we're going to have that in uh

hopefully what the next uh three months I think we can have something to you for that. Um, we have I'm really excited about this. As you all know and I know staff knows, code enforcement is a huge um huge priority for me because the citizens has spoke and that's what they that's a big priority for them. So just uh we had 48 cases of code enforcement in March. Um we have seven court cases that'll be on the next docket. We did three cleanups um property cleanups. We have one more that we are working on. Um, and uh I'm very and some of them they're all arranged. So, they're out there looking at everything from weeds to dogs at large uh to expired plates. So, we're really working hard on getting that piece and and uh doing the will of the citizens for that. So, I thought you guys would be very interested to know that. I get asked that all the time. Does anybody ever go to court? Well, yes, there's seven of them. This next court case, um, we're also going to be decorating city hall a little bit. Y'all ever go to uh Fremont County and see all the flags and all the stuff for the 250? Well, Florence is going to do that, too, because we're super proud of the 250. So, we're going to get some flags and spruce it up here to show uh how excited we are about that. Um, I think that is all I have. Oh, one last thing. Front Street and Sunnyside, uh, we are going to go out for bid for those streets. So, we're working on the RFP to get that out and get it to you

for our street projects. Sam is confident that they'll come in with the remainder of the street improvement money for the year. He's confident and I I trust his trust him. All right. Does anybody have any questions for me or any of the staff from their reports? They look a little different. We kind of are are messing with them. Uh a little bit more details on some of the stuff they do because they do work very hard. No questions. Okay. City attorney, anything? Nothing for me.

Okay. City clerk, anything? Okay. and we don't have any questions for them. So, any need for executive session? Hearing none. Do we have a motion to adjurnn? I'll make a motion to adjurnn. Do we have a second? I'll second. All in favor? I. Any opposed? Okay. Journed at 7:31. Reminder, we have workshop tomorrow at 5:30.