The Cortez City Council will vote on a new city manager contract in a busy meeting on Tuesday.
Since former City Manager Shane Hale left the position vacant in May, the council has narrowed down its applicants to five. The candidates met the public for the first time in an open house on June 4, and the council has held two executive sessions to discuss a potential contract with one of them.
At the end of the meeting on Tuesday, they will vote on the final version of that contract, which has not yet been released to the public.
The five candidates are Mark Campbell, current manager of Kremmling, Colorado; Timothy Dodge, current manager of Santa Rosa, New Mexico; John Dougherty, former manager of Kingman, Arizona; Martin Moore, current manager of Eunice, New Mexico; and Cortez Public Works Director Phil Johnson.
The council’s goal is to hire one of them before the end of June.
Chris Burkett is serving as the interim city manager.
But before the council can vote on a new contract, it has several other agenda items to consider. Council members will hold a public hearing to decide whether to approve the site plan for the new Bridge Emergency Shelter on North Park Street.
The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval of the site plan, which calls for a two-story building to include temporary housing as well as the emergency shelter, on June 5. If the council gives final approval to the plan, construction is scheduled to begin in early July.
Another item on the agenda is an ordinance that would end the city’s joint ownership of the old Montezuma County Justice Building property on 601 N. Mildred Road.
If approved, it would end the various agreements between the Cortez and Montezuma County governments on joint maintenance and access to the property, paving the way for the county to sell the building to Children’s Kiva Montessori School.
Another property-related decision on the agenda is the first reading of an ordinance approving a rezoning of 2310 E. Empire St., where owner Micah Rudosky wants to expand his Mountain Range Fitness gym to include virtual golf. The Planning and Zoning Commission also recommended approval of that rezoning at its June 5 meeting.
The meeting will begin at 7:30 p.m. in City Hall, after a 5:30 p.m. workshop. Both are open to the public.
Other actionDuring Tuesday’s workshop and regular meeting, the Council will also:
Discuss the possibility of selling 3 acres of the old Montezuma-Cortez High School property to the Housing Authority of Montezuma County for a subdivision. Discuss a possible extension of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Essential Air Service contract with Boutique Air.Hear a recommendation from the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board on renaming the BMX Complex at Parque de Vida.Review a proposed safety video about large truck traffic on North Dolores Road and U.S. Highway 160.Discuss and vote on letters of support for the ALT Fuels Colorado electric vehicle corridor grant program.Hold a public hearing on a proposed accessory dwelling unit on North Washington Street.Vote on whether to award the 2018 concrete cost-share bid to D&L Construction for $238,042.Vote on whether to approve a new Finley Engineering study on fiber-to-the-home, in the amount of $25,185.Vote on whether to approve the Lance McDaniel’s appointment to the Planning and Zoning Commission.Hold a public comment period.