Grand Junction council approves phased wind-down for downtown Resource Center, sets closure timetable

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — The Grand Junction City Council voted unanimously on March 31 to authorize a phased wind-down and limited lease extension for the downtown Resource Center at 261 Ute Avenue, approving a timetable that scales back services over the coming months and requires staff follow-up on sanitation, security and transportation.

The council approved a plan that keeps full operations through May 15, moves to a reduced schedule afterward and sets June 30 as the date by which services must be vacated (contractors may complete physical removal into July). The motion passed 7-0 on a roll-call vote.

The decision followed presentations from United Way of Mesa County and Homeward Bound of the Grand Valley and a three-hour public hearing in which service providers, volunteers, downtown business owners and residents urged competing outcomes. Philip Masters, resource center services and outreach coordinator for United Way of Mesa County, said United Way had prepared a staged transition with partners. "United Way of Mesa County has committed to community outreach, transportation, and service transition to our new temporary location," Masters said.

Homeward Bound’s presenter told council the partners planned to move staff and some services to an available North Avenue facility and expected to clear the pavilion and site no later than July 15 if that schedule were needed. "Based on the available dates of subcontractors and an analysis of potential cost, we intend to have the site clear no later than July 15, regardless of the closing plan chosen," the Homeward Bound representative said.

Why it matters: the Resource Center serves hundreds of people daily with showers, medical services, case management, meals, storage and toilet facilities. Providers and advocates said an abrupt closure would disrupt clients and create public-health and public-safety risks; downtown business representatives and some residents said the site had created persistent neighborhood impacts and urged a faster move.

Public comment and provider testimony produced competing recommendations. Mutual Aid Partners and other providers asked for a longer transition; Stephanie (Mutual Aid Partners) said, "I would just really strongly, strongly suggest that you support the 90 day extension." The Grand Junction Chamber of Commerce, represented by Candace Kernaghan, told council that a large share of downtown businesses preferred an earlier closure: "80% of the businesses, even after hearing potential extension plans, still believe the center should close on April 15." Numerous volunteers and providers presented usage data and practical constraints for rapid relocation.

City council members pressed providers for a concrete calendar and for operational clarity. Council members directed staff to research options for relocating the four on-site toilet units and to return with operating terms and possible city-owned sites; the council also asked staff to produce cost estimates and options for private security at the site on days it is closed and to coordinate with local partners on a transportation plan to move clients between new service locations.

The formal motion (mover: Council Member Randall; second: not specified on the record) established the following schedule: full operations through May 15 (staffed hours with limited daily public hours), reduced-days operation beginning May 15, a further reduction to one day per week beginning June 15, and vacating services by June 30 with site removal expected into July. The motion passed on a 7-0 roll call (Council members Bialthas, Kennedy, Winn, Mayor Pro Tem Rights, Simpson, Stout and Mayor Herman voted yes).

Council asked providers and staff to produce a coordinated calendar of days/hours and to identify where specific services (notably Mutual Aid Partners’ distribution, toilet facilities and daily showers) would relocate. Providers said some functions — case management, nursing and parts of Homeward Bound’s staffing — could move quickly; Mutual Aid Partners and Toilet Equity said moving heavy equipment and locating replacement restroom sites would take longer and likely require community partners and city permission.

Council also directed staff to: (1) explore operational terms and possible placements for the toilet units on city property and return with recommendations; (2) present options and cost estimates for security at the site on days it is closed; and (3) work with MCCUH (Mesa County collaboration for the unhoused), Grand Valley Transit partners and service providers to develop a short-term transportation plan to link clients with new service locations, and to lay groundwork for a longer-term request-for-proposals for coordinated services.

Quotes in context: Jody Visconti Clow, director of Grand Valley Catholic Outreach Day Center, confirmed outreach cooperation: "That transition can take place as soon as possible given the times and office space I currently have available." Volunteer and Mutual Aid partners supplied usage data at the hearing — ‘‘8,000 showers taken, over 2,000 unduplicated clients served, almost 20,000 sack lunches and meals given out’’ — to underline the scale of services that must be remapped, according to Richard Cressman, Mutual Aid Partners board member.

What happens next: staff will return with operational terms for toilet placement, security estimates and transportation options; providers were directed to submit a coordinated calendar showing days, hours and the sequence of moves so the council and the public can track the transition. The council framed the vote as a compromise aimed at reducing downtown impacts while preserving continuity of core services during a managed relocation.

The action was the only item on the special meeting agenda; council adjourned after final comments.