Bluff council schedules hearings, appoints Planning & Zoning member and approves several administrative purchases and bills

Bluff Town Council on Dec. 3 set a timetable for two draft ordinances, appointed a Planning & Zoning commissioner to a vacant seat, approved technology purchases to improve hybrid meetings and remote security, authorized payment of the town—s annual Bureau of Land Management airport lease and voted to pay outstanding bills.

Council prioritized a subdivision ordinance so it can be in place by year end and scheduled a planning-and-zoning public hearing for the subdivision and a recreational-vehicle regulation draft at 5:00 p.m. the following day, followed by a Dec. 10 work session and a potential council vote on Dec. 17 if staff and council complete cleanup and review. The council—s town manager said she and staff will perform editorial cleanup before forwarding the ordinance to legal review.

On appointments, the council approved reappointing Marsha Haydenfeld to a Planning & Zoning seat whose term expired Nov. 30. Planning & Zoning recommended reappointing one commissioner but did not have a second nomination; the council discussed revising bylaws to clarify vacancy procedures and agreed to advertise for applicants for the remaining seat. The motion to appoint Haydenfeld passed unanimously as announced during the meeting.

Council members also approved technology purchases to support hybrid meetings and secure town data. The council voted to accept a quote to acquire a tablet for a notetaker and to buy a Meeting Owl audiovisual device to improve remote audio/video; staff said the devices will help hybrid participation and remote monitoring as the town migrates off unsecured Gmail accounts. The motion to approve the tablet and AV device passed unanimously.

On the town—s airport, council members agreed to pay an annual BLM airport lease totaling $758.60 for 2025 and to schedule a work session to review long-term costs and benefits, requesting usage data from the airport manager. The council also received a financial report and approved payment of current bills.

Votes at a glance - Approval of Nov. 19, 2024 minutes: motion carried; recorded as 3–0 with one abstention. - Appointment of Marsha Haydenfeld to Planning & Zoning: motion carried (announced 4–0). - Approval to purchase a tablet for the notetaker and a Meeting Owl AV device: motion carried (unanimous). - Payment of BLM airport lease $758.60: motion carried (unanimous). - Motion to pay current bills: motion carried (unanimous).

The council closed the meeting after brief announcements, including a notice that the San Juan County public health director will depart mid-December. The council scheduled follow-up work sessions on the subdivision ordinance, culvert and cattle-guard quotes, and airport planning.