[{"_1":2,"_97":-5,"_98":-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",[32,73,85],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_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":67,"_71":55,"_72":55},"mediaId",6091278,"mediaKeyId","2863440-f096e480d902678efc10f1d08d5d28f7","parentId",2863440,"title","Fruita council approves amended agenda, passes consent items, appoints two to Livability Commission and moves to executive sessions","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",155000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2863440-f096e480d902678efc10f1d08d5d28f7&start=155&end=155","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2863440-f096e480d902678efc10f1d08d5d28f7/thumbnail_155000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6091278/Fruita-City/Mesa-County/Colorado/Fruita-council-approves-amended-agenda-passes-consent-items-appoints-two-to-Livability-Commission-and-moves-to-executive-sessions","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6091278-584d2b8cc9fcf068154f3cc2bef9fdef/orig.mp4?Expires=1771156663&Signature=SIH2HGbrjjOZuXwwgjUq24PC7gDm3Vo~0b8OAuQWeR-UlxdsbEEU-cqFzlrjRPpu-383gG-EIZCBfws5A4HXq6Kmut-0-NgfSbzR5IAQAPfNN9mCFConUdMh9l0uEGjsS8iYSIZiLQff40LAeCdtK7oajIXi3AZJo2xStFOtUqFZKkW4c4~xRnPjsa145iqHqtt2ifEMe0J7XHAMbs9fzUEe6JGT3qvgYNh3sJfpM5KF8bWP6lYQWPBlGyGa0svhlNiSo5pHnJqtshLyXsq~56CsPrngRyvUvk0XlwYmk9G1CJZWTIiWLhCqVto91t-HWzdNoWY~FsK7MtdVzwMRDw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-04-02T18:28:44Z","article","The Fruita City Council unanimously approved an amended meeting agenda and the consent agenda, appointed two residents to a city commission and later voted to enter multiple executive sessions to receive legal and personnel briefings.

At the start of the meeting the council voted to adopt an amended agenda. The roll call recorded all five members as voting aye. The council then approved an amended consent agenda in a single motion and vote.

After the consent vote the mayor announced two appointments to the Livability Commission: Jeffrey Moorman for a three-year term expiring April 2028 and Al Condor for a three-year term expiring January 2028. The appointments were acknowledged in the meeting immediately after the consent agenda passed.

Later in the meeting, council members approved three executive-session motions by recorded roll call votes. The council voted to convene an executive session pursuant to CRS 24-6-402(4)(b) for legal advice regarding land-use process matters; to convene an executive session under the same statute for legal advice regarding Mesa County District Court case City of Fruita v. Beto et al.; and to convene an executive session under CRS 24-6-402(4)(f) for the city attorney's personnel review. Each of those motions passed on recorded 5-0 votes.

Ending: The council returned to open session after the executive sessions (outcome of executive discussions was not reported in the public minutes at this meeting).","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Fruita City Council Meeting - April 1, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Fruita City Council approved an amended agenda and passed the consent agenda 5-0, confirmed two appointments to the Livability Commission and voted to convene three executive sessions on land-use legal advice, a district-court condemnation case and a personnel matter.","taxTitle","Fruita City, Mesa County, Colorado","taxId",70581,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":74,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":75,"_41":76,"_43":77,"_45":78,"_46":79,"_48":80,"_50":81,"_52":82,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":83,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":84,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":55,"_72":55},6091282,"Residents accuse Fruita of favoring developers; city staff explain private developer role on Skiff Avenue Canal work",1797,3976000,5773000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2863440-f096e480d902678efc10f1d08d5d28f7&start=3976&end=5773","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2863440-f096e480d902678efc10f1d08d5d28f7/thumbnail_3976000.jpg","/articles/6091282/Fruita-City/Mesa-County/Colorado/Residents-accuse-Fruita-of-favoring-developers-city-staff-explain-private-developer-role-on-Skiff-Avenue-Canal-work","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6091282-7982b1762ed427bf7d23c339b2488530/orig.mp4?Expires=1771156663&Signature=eqXMnN3KutLa7SP1Q-Tkk~b6xxUr3eJ3J73i2ijRCLWUJ0p0foCLnmwuEy9p24oN4SeL8QIJscOh7u8GZtCkV4IDO8UsT5wkAGfBFKuQbyswi9uQWwHm-ikEySndBSTXQYqLY687bo888CoQFi~PyzJEr~pT4JV-vsV5Gna6TvWrSMcdGx4sUTCrOYmShI9CW30paYkeY6oExPTgjU7iWcF4gOfGqjpQPEMO7EfgDG6uaSm4QsG6SDDwHipb2aPND6r6lwF1iZxDOSjTv05kSp1H7qRdy6NBSg-KI3zJ-IcbfPY~GLVkoGqC621S3QeAqAnCvKaz89Vm65bYskUaVA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A Fruita resident used the council's public-comment period to sharply criticize the city's handling of a local irrigation canal and an eminent-domain action, and city staff later described the work as associated with a private subdivision filing and subject to federal wetlands review.

Paul Schultz, who identified himself from Red Rock Subdivision, accused the city of enabling \"the destruction of historic irrigation infrastructure, family farms, wetlands, and the rural character of this valley\" to benefit private developers. \"On April 11, the city of Fruita is forcing the Bedeaux's Reminisce Farm into Mesa County Court for you to unnecessarily, improperly, and unjustly take private property from Bedeaux's Reminisce Farm by eminent domain,\" Schultz said. He asked the city to halt the eminent-domain process, acknowledge its role in piping the Skiff Avenue Canal and stop displacing family farms.

Later in the meeting, council members raised the Skiff/Palmer drainage issue in response to the public comment. City staff explained that the work in question was part of developer-required improvements tied to the Iron Wheel subdivision filing. A city representative said the city had required applicants to complete the quarter-section line road and associated drainage work that crosses the irrigation/drain; that the applicant asked to proceed before irrigation season; and that the project includes work within a riparian/drain feature.

City staff emphasized the city is not the federal wetlands regulator and that Army Corps of Engineers review and permitting govern any jurisdictional wetlands findings. The staff summary said the city approved the project elements under local subdivision and road-improvement review but that compliance with Army Corps permit requirements is the applicant's responsibility. \"We did approve that part of it. We're not a wetlands regulatory agency. That's the Army Corps of Engineers,\" a city staff member told the council.

During public comment resident Tessa Bynum urged enforcement of irrigation and watering rules, saying overwatering sends pesticides and herbicides into storm drains. Council and staff acknowledged the concern and noted enforcement tends to fall to HOAs or is addressed under municipal code when drought or water-use restrictions are active.

Ending: The council did not take immediate action on the public comments. An executive session on legal matters involving a court case that was noticed on the agenda followed the regular meeting; city staff later indicated that legal discussion and related proceedings (City of Fruita v. Beto et al.) are underway.","During public comment a Fruita resident accused the city of enabling piping of the Skiff Avenue Canal and pursuing eminent domain at Bedeaux's Reminisce Farm. City staff later said the piping work was tied to a private subdivision filing and wetlands/jurisdiction issues rest with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.",{"_33":86,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":87,"_41":88,"_43":89,"_45":90,"_46":91,"_48":92,"_50":93,"_52":94,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":95,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":96,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":55,"_72":55},6091287,"Mesa County, Fruita officials review updated stormwater manual and propose shorter timelines for construction enforcement",2016,1916000,3932000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2863440-f096e480d902678efc10f1d08d5d28f7&start=1916&end=3932","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2863440-f096e480d902678efc10f1d08d5d28f7/thumbnail_1916000.jpg","/articles/6091287/Fruita-City/Mesa-County/Colorado/Mesa-County-Fruita-officials-review-updated-stormwater-manual-and-propose-shorter-timelines-for-construction-enforcement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6091287-8ccb1c78657ea894d6617c741b2090dc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771156663&Signature=WFhUQNMEPfPLU0lCLMCF-lnKlIJTAOF10ZLJHIbtnH-hadyU6AvvXumzOZovX60yIApCWRsAh-WoEawIL262x~owtITptzljvF3QgXlKChTUwHqKAYRl5ed-lUxjaw3EmqsiD5N7gJdhdwRju4ZK-F~FvzupDB~Ea0YJ6ZA1NZHW1JvITHlEmyJc9rh8sWFNlsunARmwOfTOonvEtTvvO54vmMqAwxPAT2mPErDBRn5EK6dlqXyCYTTl33uN7PpfrdjYuIIktJrd~36YmhmKX2bsbw4RyWHDjJXZuOoN8wKnHq2BI6n8CcrFMlB0qZNe7H2mtk9ZSFtZCmoBVyujXg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mesa County regulatory staff on Monday briefed the Fruita City Council on a multiyear effort to update the valley's stormwater management manual, summarize newly finalized total maximum daily load (TMDL) findings and seek local support for a proposed change to construction stormwater enforcement timelines.

The presentation, led by Carrie Kudorf, Mesa County regulatory programs manager, said the county hired RightWater Engineers to help rewrite a manual that had not been updated since 2008 and that will set local hydrology and design criteria for stormwater infrastructure. Kudorf said the manual will be ADA accessible and incorporate West Slope arid-climate design practices.

Kudorf said the TMDL finalized in September 2024 identified impaired stream segments north of the Colorado River for E. coli, total recoverable iron and selenium; Adobe and Leach creeks were also listed. She told council members the county is collecting a full year of new samples in 2025, building a dashboard of historical and new sampling data and using SGM and USGS work to distinguish stream conditions from urban outfall discharges. \"We're going to be getting a new COR400000 stormwater permit,\" Kudorf said, referring to the state construction general permit the county and municipalities use as the baseline for construction stormwater compliance.

Mesa County stormwater coordinator Josh Martinez presented a proposed operational change to the county's construction notice-of-violation process. Under the current process, routine 45-day inspections may trigger a 14-day follow-up, with further 14-day follow-ups before enforcement at 42 days. Martinez said data show most sites bring themselves into compliance within 14 days and that compliance follow-ups rose sharply between 2023 and 2024. He recommended trimming one follow-up inspection and using a 28-day enforcement threshold for persistent noncompliance to reduce repeat violations and streamline inspector workloads. \"A majority of projects are achieving compliance within 14 days,\" Martinez said.

Martinez also discussed enforcement options where local authority exists, saying a planning-clearance revocation or stop-work authority would allow the building department to halt inspections or permit activity until compliance is achieved. He told the council the county is asking municipal partners to align timelines so developers face consistent expectations across the valley.

Council members asked for more detail about how compliance is defined and how the SWMM ties to permit requirements. Kudorf clarified that construction compliance is judged against the state's construction permit (COR400000) while the SWMM supplies hydraulic and rainfall design criteria for drainage reports. She noted some practices common on Colorado's Front Range (for example, certain rain gardens using high irrigation) are not appropriate here and that the manual will recommend arid-adapted solutions.

Council staff and members expressed general support for moving toward the 28-day enforcement framework. A city staff representative said, \"Staff does not have any concern with that proposed change.\" Council agreed to direct Dan Karas and city administration staff to work with Mesa County to craft formal language and an enforcement approach for public discussion.

The county is also stepping up targeted water-quality monitoring, microbial source tracking, and outfall sampling to better attribute E. coli and other impairments and to build the technical record that will guide permit limits and capital projects.

Kudorf and Martinez asked residents and local engineers to use the county's outreach portal to review manual chapters as drafts are released and to participate in scheduled stakeholder reviews.

Ending: Councilmembers asked county staff to return with the draft enforcement language and additional technical findings later in 2025. Staff said the next steps are further interjurisdictional coordination, a public review period for the manual and additional sampling and modeling work to refine where urban controls will reduce pollutant loadings.","Mesa County staff briefed the Fruita City Council on a valleywide update to the stormwater management (SWMM) manual, new TMDL-driven sampling work and a proposal to shorten construction stormwater follow-up inspections from 42 to 28 days and strengthen enforcement tools.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Fruita council approves amended agenda, passes consent items, appoints two to Livability Commission and moves to executive sessions

Residents accuse Fruita of favoring developers; city staff explain private developer role on Skiff Avenue Canal work

Mesa County, Fruita officials review updated stormwater manual and propose shorter timelines for construction enforcement