Ridgway council previews 2025 budget, capital plan and staffing needs at retreat

The Ridgway Town Council met on Oct. 12 for a budget retreat to review the draft 2025 fiscal-year budget, proposed five- and ten-year capital improvement projects and an updated 2024 Strategic Plan. The meeting opened at 9:05 a.m. at the Ridgway Community Center and was available via Zoom under the town's Electronic Participation Policy.

Town Clerk Pam Kraft presented the packet materials, including the draft budget and worksheets for capital planning, and told the Council that revenue projections were conservative. The packet included a draft Five- and Ten-Year Capital Improvement Plan, locations of draft expenditures and an updated strategic plan for Council review.

Town Manager Neill reviewed retreat goals and described the budget adoption process and timelines as they relate to the Town Charter. Neill also relayed a recommendation from Logic Compensation: maintain the town's current classification and compensation step structure while aligning pay more closely with the market average to help recruit and retain staff.

Members of the Council proposed a list of priorities for inclusion in capital planning and the 2025 budget. Items raised included revising the fee schedule for use of the Athletic Park pavilion concession area; a survey to consider vacating a right-of-way off Charles Street; creating an entertainment district on Clinton Street; adding support staff for the Town Manager; increasing Council stipends; phasing piping of water lines after the headgate; repairing roads in the RAMP project area that are settling; visitor signage; acquiring a downtown lot; continuing streetscape sidewalk maintenance; and extending the sidewalk to the school on Amelia Street.

Pam Kraft also reported on fee waivers that had been granted to affordable housing projects from the general, water and sewer funds; the minutes do not specify amounts or recipients. The Council discussed a request for a contribution from the Home Trust of Ouray County and noted the town's previous commitment to jointly fund a housing administrator who would provide similar services.

The packet and discussion included outside inputs and planning documents: an Intersection Control Assessment by the State Highway Department for North Railroad Street and Highway 62, an assessment of the wastewater plant by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, and materials related to the Growing Water Smart planning effort. The Council reviewed draft CIP worksheets in the afternoon and Neill presented the updated strategic plan. The retreat recessed for lunch from 12:15 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. and adjourned at 3:00 p.m.

Next steps outlined during the retreat were review of capital worksheets and follow-up on Council priorities; the minutes do not record any formal votes or final budget adoption.