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Grand Junction council directs staff to pursue consultant for targeted housing-code updates
Summary
Council endorsed staff and the Housing Affordability Code Task Force's recommendation to seek a consultant to help draft targeted changes to the TEDS manual and four land-use code sections; council asked for clear scoping, a likely six-month timeline, and that staff return with cost proposals for appropriation.
At the workshop, staff and Task Force members recommended contracting a consultant to help advance targeted code updates under the Housing Affordability Code Task Force.
Mike (the city manager) explained the request: the city is not seeking a full code rewrite but instead wants consultant horsepower to draft focused changes identified by staff and the task force, reconcile conflicts with other planning documents, and speed implementation. The planned scope includes technical sections of the TEDS manual and four land-use code chapters (site structure and development standards, natural resources/environmentally sensitive lands, landscape buffering and screening, and subdivision standards).
Kimberly Boland, deputy city manager, said the task force specifically requested a comprehensive review of the TEDS manual alongside targeted code changes so staff can return well-drafted recommendations. "They would like to see a comprehensive review of TEDS," Boland said, and described the work as a tool to accelerate items staff can complete and to provide draft language for the task force to review rather than replace the city's comprehensive plan.
Council members stressed three points: who the consultant would contract with and report to (the city is the contracting authority but staff and the task force will guide scope), what the budget ceiling would be (staff said proposals will determine cost and any award requiring appropriation will come back to council), and an expected timeline. Mike said the goal is a roughly six-month consultant engagement to produce draft recommendations and staff asked for direction to form a selection committee composed of staff, two task force co-chairs (Kelly Mays and Kevin Gray), and council representatives.
Several council members supported the idea of two council representatives on the selection committee but noted the selection work can be time-consuming. One council member asked explicitly, "Do we have a ceiling or a range of cost here?" and staff replied that proposals will set the range and the council will make any appropriation decision.
Council voiced general consensus to proceed with issuing RFPs and forming a selection committee; staff will bring proposals and a recommended contract back to council for appropriation and final approval. The requested consultant work will focus on accelerating targeted code updates, resolving conflicts, and producing draft text for subsequent public and commission review; it is not a substitute for council'level decisions or land-use approvals that will follow the usual public-review process.
Next steps: staff will draft an RFP, form the agreed selection committee, solicit proposals, and return to council with recommended selections and a proposed appropriation for any contract that exceeds administrative thresholds.
