Cortez Mayor Karen Sheek began Tuesday’s city council meeting by extending condolences to the people of Orlando after the nightclub shooting Sunday that left 49 people dead.
“It seems like there have been too many of these,” Sheek said. “We hope it never happens here.”
The council approved a consent agenda that included renewal of arts liquor licenses for KSJD and the Cortez Cultural Center, renewal of a restaurant liquor license and outdoor dining agreement with Blondie’s Trophy Room, and a renewal of a marijuana manufacturing license for The Medicine Man.
The council also voted to approve an ordinance vacating a 40-foot easement on the southern boundary of the Southwest Memorial Hospital campus in accordance with the hospital’s amended planned unit development.
Tuesday, the council approved an ordinance amending the method used to assess certain structures in order to calculate building permit and use fee taxes. For structures that are complete “turnkey” pre-fabricated buildings with no additional materials costs, use taxes will be calculated at 100 percent of the purchase price of the structure. Building permit fees will be calculated based on 200 percent of the purchase price, including labor and ancillary work.
The council approved an ordinance requiring one council member instead of two on the Golf Advisory Board. They also approved nominating the current City Hall building, 210 East Main St., for designation as a historic property.
City Manager Shane Hale announced that city, county and state entities had agreed on a consultant for the Paths to Mesa Verde multiuse trail project between Cortez and Mancos. The goal for the project is to have construction started on the first phase of the trail in 2018, and Hale said that is attainable.
