Ridgway council approves Colorado Girl Coffee license, $50,000 housing MOU and other routine measures

The Ridgway Town Council on Feb. 11 approved a package of routine and policy items including a tavern liquor license and sidewalk service permit for Colorado Girl Coffee, a $50,000 two-year Memorandum of Understanding with the Telluride Foundation for down-payment assistance, and a $33,824 professional services agreement with the Ridgway Area Chamber of Commerce to provide visitor and business engagement services.

Town Clerk Pam Kraft presented the Colorado Girl Coffee liquor license application for 620 Clinton Street for owner Matthew (Matt) Beyer; the approval permits limited alcohol service and allows sidewalk consumption on the north side of the building. Beyer told the council the business does not intend to operate a bar or stay open late, but intends to offer small community dinners of up to 12 people and serve alcoholic beverages at those events. The council unanimously approved the license and the accompanying revocable encroachment permit for sidewalk service.

On workforce housing, Town Manager Preston Neill presented a proposed MOU with the Telluride Foundation committing $50,000 over two years to collaborate on a down-payment assistance program intended to support regional workforce buyers. The council approved the MOU unanimously.

Council also authorized a contract with the Ridgway Area Chamber of Commerce for $33,824 to provide visitor center and engagement services. Jon Hill, director of the Chamber, said the contract budget primarily funds staff time and some design and printing, and that visitor-center services will be a hybrid of in-person, phone and web support and include an information kiosk.

The council approved a First Amendment to the Riverfront Village Development Agreement requested by Alpine Homes–Ridgway LLC. Town Planner Angela Kemp said project costs have increased and the original affordability target of 125% AMI no longer aligns with current costs; the adjusted effective sale-price targets discussed in the meeting were 170% AMI for Unit 102, 190% AMI for Unit 201, and 140% AMI for Units 202 and 203. Developer Jake Cantor told the council construction costs rose “drastically within the last four to five years,” said he was willing to forgo profit on the deed-restricted units, and asked for the ability to rent those units at cost before sale after six months of marketing. Council approved the amendment unanimously.

The council authorized submittal of an application to the Colorado Department of Local Affairs Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Grant Program. Planner Angela Kemp noted Ridgway received DOLA ADU Supportive Jurisdiction certification on Dec. 23, 2025; participation would provide pre-designed, permit-ready ADU plans and accelerate permitting for homeowners.

An intergovernmental agreement with Ouray County for noxious weed management — covering surveys, treatment recommendations and herbicide application on Town property — was approved, with Councilmember Montague recorded as the lone dissenting vote. Council also authorized staff to purchase a hybrid pickup for Public Works for up to $45,000 and approved the consent agenda of routine minutes and demands.

Marshal Schmalz presented the 2025 end-of-year calls-for-service data: 7,133 calls in 2025, up from 6,118 in 2024 and 4,900 in 2023. After a closed executive session for legal advice regarding Ridgway Suites LLC dba MTN Lodge and a personnel discussion, the council approved a compensation adjustment moving the Town Manager to Step 6 of the 2026 salary schedule retroactive to Jan. 1, 2026, for an annual salary of $154,828 (a 5.7% increase over 2025). The meeting adjourned at 8:50 p.m.

Why this matters: the approvals affect local business operations, visitor services, and housing resources; the development agreement amendment and ADU grant participation indicate continuing local responses to housing affordability pressures.