[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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",[32,75,87,99],{"_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":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",5980155,"mediaKeyId","5767316-f7f5147ca1aa6664a83e6557b43cbbb5","parentId",5767316,"title","Residents press Fruita council for pedestrian-safety fixes at crosswalks; staff outlines traffic-calming steps","audioSeconds",1235,"startMs",2520000,"endMs",3755000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5767316-f7f5147ca1aa6664a83e6557b43cbbb5&start=2520&end=3755","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5767316-f7f5147ca1aa6664a83e6557b43cbbb5/thumbnail_2520000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/5980155/Fruita-City/Mesa-County/Colorado/Residents-press-Fruita-council-for-pedestrian-safety-fixes-at-crosswalks-staff-outlines-traffic-calming-steps","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5980155-60be4e9e2d55535695baa0176f4608e9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770440344&Signature=YQ~mT1G-b8B8fW9P4Cz9qB5F8gl8T3oCQk2fjaEF81dlGFnk4CVDEtq-MoYsZC3E~MQI3vQyaB-~JUus1cwxrjKWqcC6PS3nYM1B-taFK9Vrq1~J1uaKr~r7sSfidbCeegDi~-WdD5hLp-EmegbGQGmfL2rsPUDEYPs7T416nFxVXX0GZJVobUnlsH6ZQfaPfaT4nNsK9-5sAGG3AKFbsfmIIcFl3p2mWoq5b7gxnyC00l3uRQfSwvc3Fr4XK9015Rv95OBW1YDglvOdgL~S0c7xXBQaFnb~dBcghqRfQlelEC1kmdwH4ZP1lmWWFEpHJr1BaOZtsP04x-XqsQftuQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Fruita, Colorado","date","2025-09-17T17:48:33Z","article","Multiple Fruita residents urged the council to address pedestrian-safety concerns at crosswalks around downtown, especially the Aspen Street roundabout and the intersection at Aspen and Plum.

Speakers said sight lines and vehicle speeds put pedestrians at risk. Resident Daniel Emery described near-miss incidents near the roundabout and asked officials to consider how artistic streetscape elements and other features might be positioned to avoid blocking sight lines. Joanne Christiansen and other speakers also reiterated a request for improved pedestrian signage and markings at the Aspen/Plum intersection, citing past incidents and requests through the livability committee.

City Manager and staff described planned short-term and longer-term responses. Staff announced a community painting and traffic-calming event, \"Make Your Mark,\" to begin at 8 a.m. Saturday with temporary intersection painting; the intersection will be closed Friday for preparatory cleaning. The city said public-works crews have installed raised crosswalks and traffic-calming measures at several locations and will continue assessing problem areas, coordinate with property owners on sight-line vegetation and pursue design changes where appropriate.

Nut graf: Residents pressed for proactive design changes and faster implementation; staff described both immediate tactics (painting, temporary closures) and longer-term engineering and capital improvements to address pedestrian safety.

Ending: Councilors said traffic-calming and crosswalk upgrades would be ongoing work, asked staff to continue proactive design reviews, and invited residents to provide data and crash history as staff develops engineering options and timing for capital projects.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Fruita City Council Meeting - September 16, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Residents raised safety concerns about several crosswalks, especially near the Aspen Street roundabout; staff described short-term traffic-calming work including a community painting event and longer-term design and signing reviews.","taxTitle","Fruita City, Mesa County, Colorado","taxId",70581,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},5980160,"Dispute over nude sculpture in Mulberry Plaza draws public comment, arts board to decide",4127,1650000,5777000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5767316-f7f5147ca1aa6664a83e6557b43cbbb5&start=1650&end=5777","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5767316-f7f5147ca1aa6664a83e6557b43cbbb5/thumbnail_1650000.jpg","/articles/5980160/Fruita-City/Mesa-County/Colorado/Dispute-over-nude-sculpture-in-Mulberry-Plaza-draws-public-comment-arts-board-to-decide","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5980160-b3681967aae2a4e0fe70bba48475e73d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770440344&Signature=KUpsQF2Q5bKdcjbk6AnAwbRB~GHvhwYYzi6aclR6QfwOmcbNLq2vlfd75v8PktD5XUA0Xr3nP5zlB527zclITtua4TVGRZIBw0oqXZC0MRYkDRta5lajv0CXwp9Sc-qTKlcj1ZE~7kLeLe0YuL3I5EEuebL8qlqZS-FLtqCrpoM7Bngo27Hn5gEU6gRRJW1HOGptyb6JhCqqjG9cL~piNRrKC3B7LXA-Hp~Tcs0JJ1D41CM6Z3FOPa39M8~oBj17mJz1u4IvamnNw2daU2CewSYtArHMlYa697GwKeoXlzKoQFtu7-4cUpAgDCTV5pPyhuLFM1zIzZP4Ci2QqIojYQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A sculpture placed in Mulberry Plaza that some residents describe as depicting exposed female genitalia prompted repeated public comment, sharp exchanges on social media and a city-led review of the Arts and Culture Board's project-selection process.

At the meeting, several speakers asked the council and staff to remove or relocate the piece. Jason Hair told the council the sculpture \"openly depicts exposed genitalia\" and argued it violated community decency standards and state law; he cited what he described as Colorado criminal statutes prohibiting public indecent exposure and a municipal code that disallows appearing in public \"in a state of undress\" that exposes genitals or buttocks. Another commenter, Stephanie Tartaglia, cited the U.S. Supreme Court's Roth (1957) and Miller (1973) tests on obscenity during her public comment and urged council oversight.

Residents also raised potential economic impacts to businesses near the installation and questioned whether the Arts and Culture Board had appropriate oversight and used representative images during its review process. Several residents urged civil conversation: a speaker who identified himself as Thomas Wells encouraged community dialogue and said a silent group may support the artwork.

The nut graf: Councilors stressed that the Arts and Culture Board is a volunteer, citizen-led body and said the board will meet in a public session to decide the sculpture's fate. Staff and council asked the board to return with lessons learned about selection, presentation and communications.

Council and staff outlined three options the board told the public it would consider: modify the sculpture, relocate it, or remove it. The council asked staff to ensure the board's meeting is recorded and suggested the board provide a post-decision summary of lessons learned and any recommended changes to the selection process. Parks and Recreation Director Mark Mancuso said the images presented to the selection committee did not display the same level of detail that appears on site, a factor several councilors said contributed to misunderstanding.

Ending: The Arts and Culture Board will meet the next day at 5:30 p.m. at the Public Works Building to make a decision. Council members said they expect a public record of that meeting and asked the board and staff to prepare a summary of the process and any recommended changes so the city and other volunteer boards can learn from the episode.

","Multiple Fruita residents told council they find a recently installed statue in Mulberry Plaza indecent and said it risks economic harm to downtown businesses. The Arts and Culture Board will meet to decide whether to modify, relocate or remove the sculpture; council and staff discussed improving board processes and communications.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},5980166,"Fruita council approves amendment to Verizon lease on community center rooftop",111,2967000,3078000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5767316-f7f5147ca1aa6664a83e6557b43cbbb5&start=2967&end=3078","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5767316-f7f5147ca1aa6664a83e6557b43cbbb5/thumbnail_2967000.jpg","/articles/5980166/Fruita-City/Mesa-County/Colorado/Fruita-council-approves-amendment-to-Verizon-lease-on-community-center-rooftop","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5980166-cde8c778765d8369b3c3dcea208ccb36/orig.mp4?Expires=1770440344&Signature=MwikIf3WfeqxHbdnU6M1T1jMBZ7Cs~15Nog~wbH2qq6J4DNn2NSb6SEBuizPyfwYKVUH8GWNfgz5cDUfq~ahruilJ52r4-dcAa2z6fqGtWv75n~-VP8MG2AuIACLGrNOqqc~XL17YYN8aAEYm~Oc13vh~3G2h8PI8405IKRLXt66~XMMcAgzMeI-Uuyu-V4N541Aw7dZ0pmtqTIdva997ulB0b7kwua96OlXGC47D9tRXDp2KMochj3xhfCDZfRH~cyVJCnDEQ8IcOxcTimpMPKXEpLMrVzysvKF5WXfaE7mDK3Edw56d0vwPmvgBlkcaLy7a0GKBZA2B3DjnYWIxw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Fruita City Council voted 5-0 to approve a first amendment to the existing lease with ComNet Cellular Inc., doing business as Verizon Wireless, modifying rent and term language for the rooftop cell site at the Fruita Community Center.

Procurement and Contract Specialist Mackenzie Erickson told council Verizon had re-evaluated its macro-site economics as carriers deploy more small 5G nodes. The amended lease reduces the city's monthly rent from $2,416.03 to $1,655 beginning in July for the first five years of the amendment, with each subsequent five-year term to increase by 10%, she said. Erickson described the agreement as passive income for the city that does not require additional staff to maintain.

Council held no public comment on the ordinance. After a motion and second, polling showed Councilors Williams, Hansi, Purser, Quigley and Miller voting in favor; the ordinance (2025-18) passed 5-0.

Nut graf: The amendment aims to keep an existing rooftop site viable for the carrier while reflecting changes in cellular site economics; staff said the amendment preserves a revenue stream for the city without added operational burden.

Ending: The council authorized the city manager to execute the lease amendment. Staff said the change is intended to prolong occupancy of a valuable site while acknowledging industry shifts toward smaller antennas on poles and streetlights.

","The council approved an amendment reducing monthly lease rent for the rooftop cell site at the Fruita Community Center in hopes of keeping the location leased as carriers downsize macro sites.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},5980172,"Fruita council approves 2024 financial statements, accepts auditor's report",760,0,760000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5767316-f7f5147ca1aa6664a83e6557b43cbbb5&start=0&end=760","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5767316-f7f5147ca1aa6664a83e6557b43cbbb5/thumbnail_0.jpg","/articles/5980172/Fruita-City/Mesa-County/Colorado/Fruita-council-approves-2024-financial-statements-accepts-auditors-report","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5980172-44f1394197d19984031bb34df4b45bf4/orig.mp4?Expires=1770440344&Signature=cQNbPc8gFy9p0uErUbNJWbf~9wBumO6IaLjlkklZ7Bk68sQ4f6G0RfG5OU0PzJQKkIQpUL~6vxlPF6II~2gAi8tk-h6et2ETviZIOFsXC87j-UeJ0KJxWNDBz1uEGpaRTw~Su3IQsOFfMyN8uJqQf2EMdZDmT~J9roMm3agasUWyxletyOnNVyfbOAE~5GLSz7kbym3wlOeErNsjTF~7bHw7pk0i~XaxvxhTio~tGjiQYBLWENPOzAqaUJTa8i8RX9qkQFTgJ88ioHLeOJnKQUG~np486Q29Qr-7DsWOzI~uS4rLl5-ioqCwEFq8QSH7adJibaTVE9uGbZUuZ0uyBw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Fruita City Council on a 5-0 vote approved the city's 2024 financial statements and accepted the auditor's report, following a staff presentation that characterized the city's financial position as strong and stable.

City staff told the council the city's total net position for 2024 is $135,200,000 and that the net position rose $9,700,000 from 2023. The presentation noted the 2023 figures were restated to reflect implementation of GASB 101 on compensated absences. Staff said 70% of net position is net investment in capital assets, 7% is restricted by outside requirements such as TABOR emergency reserves and development impact fees, and 23% is unrestricted; unrestricted assets were reported at about $31,300,000.

The nut graf: the council approved the statements after questions about internal controls and processes, and staff described follow-up steps on several items flagged in the management letter, including a purchasing-card policy, sole-source procurement worksheets and filing of budget amendments with the Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA).

City staff reported general-fund final budgeted revenues of $12.8 million and actual revenues of $13.9 million, and final-budgeted general-fund expenses of $12.7 million with actual spending of $11.6 million, producing positive variances. Officials said much of the apparent savings in transfers out (budgeted $9.7 million, actual $1.6 million) was timing-related and that those capital-transfer funds were reappropriated and rolled into 2025 to cover delayed projects.

During council questions, members pressed staff about how Fruita compares to similarly sized communities, to which the auditor and staff said internal fund-balance metrics and reserve policies indicate Fruita is comparatively well-positioned and less dependent on federal funding for core infrastructure than some peers. Councilors also asked about the status of a formal purchasing-card policy, procurement controls for sole sourcing and the process to submit budget amendments to DOLA; staff said a p-card policy is in progress and that the assistant city manager will upload approved supplementals to DOLA after council adoption.

A resident, Daniel Lemery of 930 Squire Court, told the council, \"This is short and sweet. Really nice to see that we're financially stable, and my compliments.\" City staff credited interim Finance Director Krista Yamashida and the finance team for meeting the extended filing deadline.

Ending: Councilor polling recorded votes as Yes from Councilors Williams, Hansi, Purser, Quigley and Miller; motion passed 5-0. Staff said they will use lessons from the audit and the management letter to refine internal policies and will present updates in the 2025 budget process.

","The Fruita City Council voted unanimously to approve the city's 2024 financial statements and accept the auditor's report after a presentation showing increased net position, positive variances and planned reappropriation of capital funds to 2025.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Residents press Fruita council for pedestrian-safety fixes at crosswalks; staff outlines traffic-calming steps

Dispute over nude sculpture in Mulberry Plaza draws public comment, arts board to decide

Fruita council approves amendment to Verizon lease on community center rooftop

Fruita council approves 2024 financial statements, accepts auditor's report