The March 2nd City Council session began with a scheduled Work Session. The goal of the Work Session was to provide policy direction to the Planning Commission regarding STR’s after Ordinance 1431 was officially repealed February 16, 2023. Council reviewed data provided by the City to review lodging and sales tax from previous years. Council came to agreement that to provide thorough guidance to the Planning Department, it would need to first review additional hard data to be collected by City staff. This includes: distinction between resident owned properties, owner-occupied properties, and non-owner occupied properties, inside Woodland Park. Council requested to review the request for proposal for the STR economic impact study prior to issuance. Council moved to schedule an Agenda Item Discussion at the upcoming March 16, 2023 regularly scheduled City Council meeting.
Donna Finicle and Pat Hyslop, President and Board Members of the Ute Pass Historical Society, shared a presentation to Council of a brief history of Woodland Park and the contributions the Society offers the community. The Ute Pass Historical Society is primarily a volunteer-based organization with a mission to ‘preserve, protect & share history of the Ute Pass,” and a goal to increase historical tourism. Most recently, the Society has been working to complete a short film titled, “The Story of Us,” produced in collaboration with the Teller County Film Commission, Animas Productions and RedJaxx Media. It is scheduled to be released later this year.
Council unanimously approved the Construction Management Services for Highway 67 Improvements between Wilson and Co and the City of Woodland Park for $205,040. This was a task order under the on-call contract from January.
Council heard consideration of Ordinance 1441, Series 2023 for the request of a Special Use permit with a site plan review for the purpose of Verizon Wireless to construct and utilize a temporary communication facility in the Public/Semi-Public Lands zone type behind City Hall. The need for a Use Permit applies because the structure needed would exceed 50ft. Council passed Ordiance 1441 unanimously and it will be set for public hearing on March 16, 2023.
Next on the agenda was the consideration of Ordinance 1442, Series 2023 for an Ordinance Amendment to the PUD for the property located in the Walmart PUD, lot 4. The amendment would allow the use and dimensional standards to also include an automated, express style car wash. Council passed the Amendment unanimously and it will be set for public hearing on March 16, 2023.
Deputy City Manager/Director of Operations, Kip Wiley presented Council with the motion to approve Ordinance 1440, Series 2023, regarding the purchase of a Twin Lakes water share. Purchasing the water share “secures Woodland Park’s water future,” stated Wiley. Council passed the Ordinance unanimously.
During the Mayor’s report, Mayor Hilary LaBarre shared information about the upcoming Greater Woodland Park Chamber of Commerce, Annual Dinner and Awards Gala. The Gala is hosted at the Cheyenne Mountain Resort on Friday, March 17, 2023. Tickets can be purchased through the Chamber.
The Ute Pass Cultural Center is soon hosting a production of “Steel Magnolias”, by the Funky Little Theatre Company. The show will run March 10-12 and tickets can be purchased online prior to the show.
City Manager Michael Lawson announced the success of the Name Our Snowplows contest. The contest received 131 unique name entries. Public voting to select the favored winners opens the evening of Friday March 3. The three winners will be announced to the community March 13, 2023.