[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6305910,"mediaKeyId","2442942-de359bdd085dd85f8106e6284c96e83d","parentId",2442942,"title","Trustees approve library parking waiver, convey retired canine, remove library deed reverter and endorse housing grant request","audioSeconds",1920,"startMs",7093095,"endMs",9013665,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2442942-de359bdd085dd85f8106e6284c96e83d&start=7093&end=9013","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2442942-de359bdd085dd85f8106e6284c96e83d/thumbnail_7093095.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6305910/Colorado/Trustees-approve-library-parking-waiver-convey-retired-canine-remove-library-deed-reverter-and-endorse-housing-grant-request","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6305910-660fe586ca24142fce7c41cd0d56a1c2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771112049&Signature=bRsKesHVDWULsi0mi8IDeckHmCyEoM9G5B67ZD6KtMzNe~eMJx7RnBCxRrBWs-Ezmcj8zOKSLa2GGmiw-BqpNebjcI-gLfbGHs0kH-mcyuX-DTE2h5-E5USme7LpOMl80L9quID8d7yBmVo~kXQBdMejXyHkyfhxgL4GIiX3PqLNIgQHZ3nhGoSkWExK3fPgKOX7VBOqr8je73Z40uOEg27cqIWmkPQRJ577Q5DubphKuxGKPQHYjeLK-jSWCzih8xZFyVtAzMuHujPtBLYsum5zMSkC5NGEQhgYn9fJ1XmcPov2tcGNcEQLC6rQXNII6zcfAbHL44znqFDQ0XU-0A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town of Buena Vista, CO","date","2025-02-26T18:26:43Z","article","Buena Vista ' The Town of Buena Vista Board of Trustees on Feb. 25 approved several consent and business items, including a parking relief waiver for the Buena Vista Public Library, a resolution conveying retired police canine Thor to his handler, an ordinance removing a deed reverter on the library parcel, approval of a public improvement agreement and a contract to resurface a town trail. Trustees also authorized staff to send a letter of support for a state housing grant application covering 14 permanently affordable homes at the BB Crossing project.

Votes at a glance

- Library parking cash-in-lieu (resolution to accept 3 parking spaces via cash-in-lieu): Outcome: approved (unanimous).
- Motion: approve cash-in-lieu for three parking spaces to meet library expansion requirements; conditions include non-refundable fee collected at building-permit issuance, approval based on proposed use and a one-year permit deadline to obtain a building permit.
- Tally: approved unanimously by Trustees present.
- Context: The library will expand from ~7,500 sq ft to ~12,000 sq ft; code requires 1 space per 500 sq ft (25 spaces required), the site can provide 12 on-site plus limited bicycle parking and a shared-parking MOU with Grace Church; staff recommended approval with conditions.

- Conveyance of police canine Thor to handler (Resolution 15): Outcome: approved (unanimous).
- Motion: convey ownership of retired K-9 Thor to Officer Fraser Pumphrey and recognize service.
- Tally: approved unanimously by Trustees present.
- Context: Thor is retiring from active duty; trustees approved a resolution to transfer ownership and recognized the handler's service.

- Removal of deed reverter on library parcel (Ordinance No. 2, Series 2025): Outcome: adopted (unanimous).
- Motion: adopt ordinance removing a reverter clause from the library property deed that had previously required the parcel remain a library in perpetuity.
- Tally: adopted unanimously by Trustees present.
- Context: Staff said the reverter complicated financing for the approved library expansion; trustees discussed precedent and agreed removal allows the library to access finance options while the town retains zoning control.

- Public Improvement Agreement for Block 75 (Resolution 17): Outcome: approved (unanimous).
- Motion: approve a public improvement agreement securing construction of required public improvements (sidewalks, alley work, detention) with developer-provided security and contingency.
- Tally: approved unanimously.
- Context: PIA is standard contract mechanism tying permit issuance to completion or security for public infrastructure.

- Trail resurfacing contract (Resolution 18): Outcome: approved (unanimous).
- Motion: award a bid to pave/rehabilitate a primary multi-use trail segment (approx. 2,000 feet) from Cedar Street to Marquardt Avenue; budgeted and within cost estimate.
- Tally: approved unanimously.
- Context: Staff received one complete bid; work includes subgrade prep and new asphalt and minor ADA/cross-slope adjustments at Marquardt access.

- Letter of support for Chaffee Housing Trust grant application: Outcome: approved (unanimous).
- Motion: approve staff-revised letter of support for a state Division of Housing grant application for 14 permanently affordable homes at the BB Crossing project; trustees added language noting in-kind staff support and planning/engineering assistance provided by the town.
- Tally: approved unanimously.
- Context: Trustees discussed fee-waiver precedent and declined to authorize fee waivers but agreed to document town support and existing in-kind staff contributions to strengthen the grant application.

What trustees said

Trustees thanked staff and advisory boards for preparation and emphasized next steps: bringing cost estimates and phasing for projects into the budget process, maintaining transparency in developer agreements and ensuring code enforcement and project follow-through where required.

Ending

All actions were approved by unanimous voice or roll-call votes of trustees present. Trustees scheduled a planning-session work meeting in early April and asked staff to return with additional costed proposals for water conservation measures and the recreation master plan.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of Trustees Work Session & Regular Meeting - February 25, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Board of Trustees approved a set of resolutions and an ordinance Feb. 25, including a library parking cash-in-lieu request, conveyance of a retiring police canine, removal of a library deed reverter and several development-related agreements.","taxTitle","Town of Buena Vista, Chaffee County, Colorado","taxId",53532,"location","Colorado","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6305920,"Buena Vista water advisers recommend tiered rates, leak control and new coordinator as treatment plant readies",3302,34940,3337900,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2442942-de359bdd085dd85f8106e6284c96e83d&start=34&end=3337","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2442942-de359bdd085dd85f8106e6284c96e83d/thumbnail_34940.jpg","/articles/6305920/Colorado/Buena-Vista-water-advisers-recommend-tiered-rates-leak-control-and-new-coordinator-as-treatment-plant-readies","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6305920-6e4ed6247382afde3df783add82ed1b2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771112049&Signature=bIbqxspL3Vb6GMwW1AuGh0QEiq6Y6gGWDbr0T7dLp4Jlp8X1W0tX8xipkZpADNh4-GVOv3lzDMvuDEu9Ig7RczR6Udt-akicGJ1aY1WabswNj5aWpwQmG5Mw1u5p~Tfnpp1Yp3LBlS8z0BvCCgubq6Jx6jUkb-drDVNxYtTtq3g2gJ4u5S5MbgXtz-uflHhAhitRdol0tA5Yucp7ePjZ8tuVyPq8FXcm5yQ2BMUaBM4udacpUd05Ko8tFUQJ5~8rfLG85H6OTaf0F-Ft4iX7fbsaGtXqtJYECILW394JNUpCvBiNQNHQNqW2ckVcQx-cL0KPq5Zb3eeh-G1NLSZ3Lg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Buena Vista ' The Water Advisory Board and town staff presented a package of recommended water-conservation actions on Feb. 25 as the town prepares to bring an upgraded treatment plant online this spring. The group urged the Board of Trustees to pursue conservation-oriented rate refinements, more aggressive water-loss control, targeted infrastructure replacement, landscape irrigation budgets and a dedicated conservation coordinator to manage programs and outreach.

The recommendations were introduced during a work session by Al Smith, who framed the discussion as a move from baseline data to prioritized, actionable options. \"This is hopefully meant to be more conversational,\" Smith said, describing the presentation as aimed at shaping the town's top-tier conservation priorities.

Why it matters: Buena Vista faces a seasonal demand bottleneck. Data shown to trustees and advisory board members indicate average summer water demand peaks roughly three times winter levels, and a 10-year average system water loss near 21 percent. The town's new treatment plant is being brought online to expand firm treatment capacity, but staff and the advisory board said conservation can reduce the need for further costly infrastructure.

Key recommendations and findings

- Rate structure. The board emphasized refining the town's tiered rate design to target discretionary outdoor irrigation use. The town already adopted a tiered rate structure in 2023, but it has not been fully tuned as a conservation tool. Trustees and advisory board members discussed demand-oriented or seasonal pricing that raises the marginal price for the highest users during irrigation months rather than raising base rates for low-usage residents. Board discussion noted a trade-off: rates must still recover fixed system costs (chemicals, labor, power, repairs) while incentivizing reduced discretionary use.

- Water-loss control and infrastructure. Historical data presented by staff show an average 21% system water loss over the past decade, compared with industry targets of 15% or less. The advisory board recommended expanding leak detection and repair capacity and prioritizing replacement of aging pipe in known problem areas. Engineering estimates included in the discussion suggest replacement costs can be sizable (hundreds of dollars per linear foot in some locations), but reducing loss toward 15% would recover roughly 6% of total system water.

- Landscape irrigation budgets and development standards. The board recommended requiring and auditing water budgets for large developments and institutional users (schools were highlighted as examples of summer heavy users). Paired with demand-based rates, water budgets and design assistance for developers and large users were viewed as high-impact, enforceable measures.

- Water conservation coordinator. Advisory members proposed creating a position (or shared role) to lead education, outreach, developer assistance, program monitoring and some operational leak-detection tasks. The role would centralize program delivery, track outcomes and assist in applying grant funding or coordinating contractors.

- Code and enforcement updates. The board recommended updating land-use code to require water-efficient landscaping and to add enforcement mechanisms so approved landscape designs and water budgets are honored after construction. The school district's high summer water use was cited as an example where stronger post-construction compliance could yield substantial savings.

Treatment plant and capacity context

Board materials and staff presentations clarified the near-term infrastructure picture: Buena Vista's infiltration gallery and related water-right portfolio total about 3.88 cubic feet per second (roughly 2.5 million gallons per day). The new treatment plant is being operated with a design target of 2.0 million gallons per day (MGD) to match drought-planning and operator-certification constraints, although facilities can physically treat higher flows. Town staff told trustees that plant start-up was scheduled the week after the meeting, with an operational target to serve customers by April 1.

Board discussion and next steps

Trustees signaled general interest in pursuing several of the advisory board's priorities but emphasized that specific rate changes would require a separate rate study and community engagement. Several trustees urged combining actions (for example, pairing tiered-rate reform with landscape budgets and developer design assistance) as a phased \"Phase 1\" work plan to be considered in upcoming budget discussions. Staff recommended adding implementation details and cost estimates to the town's regular budget process and exploring grant opportunities for coordinator funding and leak-detection equipment.

Ending

The Trustees requested additional information on the proposed measures, including an estimate of upfront costs and likely water savings, and asked staff to return with a proposed phasing plan in time for the fall budget season. The Water Advisory Board indicated it will refine technical memoranda and return with more detailed recommendations and cost estimates for board review.

","The Water Advisory Board and town staff presented a package of recommended water-conservation actions on Feb. 25 as the town prepares to bring an upgraded treatment plant online this spring.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6305915,"Buena Vista survey finds strong support for trail connectivity; indoor recreation and pool remain high priorities",798,5335995,6134055,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2442942-de359bdd085dd85f8106e6284c96e83d&start=5335&end=6134","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2442942-de359bdd085dd85f8106e6284c96e83d/thumbnail_5335995.jpg","/articles/6305915/Colorado/Buena-Vista-survey-finds-strong-support-for-trail-connectivity-indoor-recreation-and-pool-remain-high-priorities","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6305915-eef3b8743e23ed14518b57194aaaf09c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771112049&Signature=CccF4SOoENSzHHByid5MbMDgZUpXaH~PjUUIQAcnEMg-nxh1Fawi8JpctcrEjICeSprGGkYK3TxDXV9fZC76Zd1w6IAUGuK6JcoQqgdhYOzmcgsKZGjGLZ6O1XC45Un0I68-s0EETDsbA9plkrrhRAu7jZgA9PU~f5IhW93jJT2SBCTsU4E7gB~cgcQxpD-qd3Z1NulQkGRBImFE2KZln3lf0Mqm31rZbILu6nqN6fyDX3ZNS~viJNt~dTBiHf47seNQ0j3DfZM7kfR2s--HPoXxUH9HGmcFNJ4p13jmNCGTDg6xfmakeSzZ7XGd2LhZG9QrpyFCqCAXxY60wSz35A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Buena Vista ' A community survey conducted for Buena Vista's parks, recreation and trails planning attracted 907 responses and showed strong resident interest in improved trail connectivity, new indoor recreation facilities and more programming for teens and seniors, town staff reported Feb. 25.

Shane (recreation staff) told trustees the online survey, open in November and December 2024, drew responses from inside town (about 20% of resident households) and from elsewhere in Chaffee County. \"A total of 907 responses,\" Shane said in presenting the report, noting that most respondents had lived in Buena Vista more than 10 years.

What residents said

- Trails and connectivity: The most frequently cited priority was new connections to existing trails and safer bike/pedestrian crossings. Respondents favored investments that link neighborhoods to trails and to destination areas rather than standalone new park equipment.

- Facilities and programs: While many respondents supported new indoor recreation space and an indoor sports complex, the survey also showed strong interest in arts classes, teen and senior programming, and expanded organized activities. About three dozen respondents specifically requested an indoor pool.

- Funding preferences: The highest-ranked funding option was a lodging tax, followed by a recreation-specific bond, sales-tax increase or property-tax increase. A special recreation district was supported by roughly three-quarters of respondents after a short explanation of how such districts work.

Trails analysis and next steps

A companion trails assessment recommended targeted maintenance and specific trail connections where feasible; consultants suggested improvements to the Airport Trail and to the grade and cross-slope at the Marquardt Trail access behind the middle/high school to increase safety and usability. Staff said the findings will feed into a parks-trails-recreation master plan budgeted for 2025 and contingent on grant funding.

Trustees and advisory board members discussed practical next steps: focusing maintenance funds on high-use corridors, improving signage and delineation of trail/road interfaces, and pursuing grants and partnerships for any larger facilities. Trustees asked staff to return with implementation priorities and cost estimates for inclusion in the 2026 budget cycle.

Ending

Shane said full survey materials and the trails analysis will be posted to the town's planning pages; staff and volunteers will coordinate workshops, garden tours and outreach to promote native landscaping and low-water landscaping options as part of combined conservation and recreation goals.

","A town recreation survey gathered 907 responses and showed broad approval of existing parks and a strong preference for improved trail connections, more indoor facilities and targeted funding mechanisms such as a lodging tax or recreation district.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Trustees approve library parking waiver, convey retired canine, remove library deed reverter and endorse housing grant request

Buena Vista water advisers recommend tiered rates, leak control and new coordinator as treatment plant readies

Buena Vista survey finds strong support for trail connectivity; indoor recreation and pool remain high priorities