The Rico Planning Commission will hold their meeting Nov. 27 at 7 p.m. at the Rico Courthouse. On the agenda under New Business is Work Session: Discuss Greenhouse. Discuss River Corridor.
A proposed budget has been submitted to the Rico Board of Trustees for the ensuing year of 2013. A copy of such proposed budget is on file in the Office of Town Clerk, where the same is open for public inspection Monday through Thursday between the hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Such proposed budget will be presented for review and approval at a meeting of the Rico Board of Trustees to be held at the Rico Town Hall, 2 N. Commercial Street on Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. Any interested elector of the Town of Rico may inspect the proposed budget and file or register any objections or comments prior to the final adoption of the budget at the Dec. 5, 2012 meeting with the Rico Town Clerk, PO Box 9, Rico, Colorado 81332 or email townclerk@ricocolorado.org.
At the regular Rico Town Board meeting held on Nov. 14, Town Attorney Susan Baker reported town staff, ARCO and Trust for Land Restoration (TLR) have scheduled phone calls with some insurance carriers next week to discuss insurance options for the Town in relation to the Towns VCUP obligations. In the past couple of weeks, some of the carriers have provided the Town with proposed policies. However, these policies need further discussion and modifications to fully cover the Town in administering the Institutional Controls program as well as other VCUP obligations.
The Towns priority will be to obtain coverage for administration of the Institutional Controls Ordinance and pending obligations under the VCUP Soils program. The proposal also addresses NorthRico obligations, although some of these obligations for example the St. Louis Water Treatment System specifically and exclusively belong to ARCO. Nevertheless, because of the Towns involvement in NorthRico as a founding member of the non-profit organization and active member of the board of directors, such insurance coverage would be beneficial to the Town.
Following discussions in the coming weeks, the staff hopes to have a few proposed policies to present to the board for consideration and discussion in an executive session. Once the insurance issues have been resolved, the parties should be able to resume finalizing the VCUP settlement agreement, as well as the funding mechanisms to support the Town in administering aspects of the VCUP plan, including streets and the ICs program.
Regarding 2013 Work Plan Town Attorney Susan Baker submitted a revised plan. The plan continues many of the existing projects and adds the following: Exploration of Land Use Code amendments to address sustainability such as allowing greenhouses and other off-the-grid construction, which sometimes conflict with existing zoning regulations of design requirements. Completion of the River Corridor Re-Plat to coincide with master planning of the River Corridor to comply with VCUP goals and objectives. Recreational Goals and review of the Master Plan and River Corridor Plans related thereto. Addition of 1041 regulatory powers to the Rico Land Use Code to address possible geothermal development in the area. Discussion of amendment to Ricos Three Mile Plan and cooperative efforts with Dolores County to address geothermal development and potential mining activities adjacent to Ricos municipal boundary. Amended of the Towns Master Plan, Annexation Ordinance and Land Use Code to comply with VCUP requirements. Amendment of the Towns Land Use Code, Zoning Ordinances and Zoning Map to potentially reflect the Institutional Controls Ordinance and EROZ and RSOZ overlay zones. Geothermal Development Work cooperatively with potential partners to discuss land use options and possible funding from grants and other sources.