The Fruita City Council at its Jan. 7 meeting handled routine business and several formal actions that the council approved unanimously.

Lede: Council adopted the meeting agenda and the consent agenda without changes and approved two recorded items of business: an ordinance vacating a portion of street right-of-way along 18 Road south of I Road and a resolution authorizing the interim city manager to execute a purchase contract for a downtown parking lot the city has long leased.

Nut Graf: The right-of-way vacation (Ordinance 2025-01) concerns a long-dedicated strip adjacent to property owned by Lake Widonow LLC and, according to staff, carries no utility reservations because no public utilities run in the segment. Staff said the vacation would not landlock parcels and was recommended for adoption after Planning Commission review. The downtown parking purchase (Resolution 2025-02) seeks to acquire a lot north of Aspen Avenue the city has leased; the purchase price in the city record is $650,000 and staff said funds are available in the 2025 budget.

Key votes and items at a glance:

- Adopt agenda: Motion to adopt the Jan. 7 agenda passed 6-0.

- Consent agenda: Council approved the consent agenda (including routine minutes, licenses and departmental items) by unanimous vote; staff clarified the city accepts credit cards for business licenses but not for utility bills.

- Ordinance 2025-01 (second reading) vacating certain street right-of-way along 18 Road south of I Road: City planner Henry Hempel described the right-of-way as adjacent to 18 Road south of I Road and recommended adoption; the Planning Commission recommended approval by a 6-0 vote in November. Council adopted the ordinance 6-0. Staff said no utilities or easements are present in the segment and no public comments were received during the public hearing.

- Resolution 2025-02 authorizing the interim city manager to execute contract to purchase downtown property (TBD North Mulberry): Interim City Manager Shane Vasant told council the city had leased the lot for public parking for about a year and staff negotiated a purchase at $650,000 after earlier asking prices were significantly higher. The closing was scheduled the following day; council approved the resolution 6-0.

- Volunteer acknowledgments: City acknowledged volunteers Molly Shepherdson (Tourism Advisory Council) and Amanda Quigley (Board of Adjustments) and thanked outgoing volunteers.

Other business: Council opened a public participation period and heard multiple speakers on local issues including opposition to parts of the 19 Road expansion and concerns about underground transmission lines in Riverfront Park (the latter was resolved in a separate council action described in the primary article). The meeting included proclamations honoring Crime Stoppers Month and Martin Luther King Jr. Day; ceremonial proclamations were read but are not substantive policy actions.

Ending: The council closed the meeting after moving into a scheduled executive session later in the evening for legal advice and negotiation strategy regarding the 19 Road project.