Alamosa council unanimously adopts two ordinances and reappoints homeless coalition member

Alamosa City Council unanimously approved two ordinances and reappointed a member to the Homeless Coalition at its regular meeting on Sept. 1, 2025, the city said.

The council adopted Ordinance 20-20-25, which replaces Chapter 20 of the city municipal code and updates utility-related rules and fees; adopted Ordinance 19-20-25, which clarifies procedures for municipal traffic infractions and the rules of municipal court; and approved the reappointment of Lisa Lucero to the Homeless Coalition. All measures passed on second reading by unanimous voice or roll-call votes.

City staff described Ordinance 20-20-25 as a comprehensive reorganization and modernization of Chapter 20, intended to remove piecemeal language and clarify responsibilities. A city staff member said the rewrite updates definitions and roles, clarifies maintenance responsibility for service lines, forbids unauthorized operation of "perp stop valves," and adds a prohibition on tying well water into the municipal system except for irrigation. The staff member also described a substantive change to tap fees: "these haven't been changed since 02/2007," and the new fee structure is “really just only intended to cover what the costs are,” including labor and materials, with separate fees for indoor and outdoor meters.

On Ordinance 19-20-25, staff summarized the item as a cleanup to the city's adoption of the Model Traffic Code and said the main change is to make clear that the Colorado rules of municipal court procedure apply to traffic trials brought in municipal court. A city attorney, who reviewed the ordinance in the meeting, asked to change one sentence in subsection 3(c) so that restitution would be discretionary rather than mandatory, saying it "may be required to pay restitution" instead of "shall be required." Councilor Hensley moved adoption with that change; the motion passed unanimously.

The council also reappointed Lisa Lucero to the Homeless Coalition. Staff told the council Lucero had served on the coalition earlier in the year, her term expired in June, and she submitted an application after the deadline; because the council had appointed her previously, they placed the reappointment on the consent calendar without an interview. The council voted to reappoint her unanimously.

The meeting closed with council agreement to go into an executive session to discuss acquisition of real property under Colorado law.

Votes at a glance - Appointment: Lisa Lucero to the Homeless Coalition — Motion to appoint made from the floor; carried unanimously. - Ordinance 20-20-25: Replacing Chapter 20 of the municipal code (utility code rewrite; tap fee updates) — Adopted on second reading; carried unanimously. - Ordinance 19-20-25: Amending procedures for municipal traffic infractions (clarifies municipal court rules; restitution language changed to "may") — Adopted on second reading with city-attorney change; carried unanimously.

Council members present for votes included Mayor Ty Coleman and Councilors Carson, Jan Vigil, Jackie Vigil, Hensley, Krebs and Dominguez.