RESOLUTION NO. 30-87
COUNTY #MCM 87-63
WHEREAS, among Western Colorado's most widely known natural landmarks are
the Colorado and Gunnison Rivers; and
WHEREAS, those rivers flow through Mesa County and several of its
communities and have abundant natural resources providing a strong base
for a variety of economic development opportunities; and
WHEREAS, the Grand Junction/Mesa County region is further enhanced by the
confluence of the Colorado and Gunnison Rivers, and development of trails,
parks, and greenways along the rivers are desirable goals that would
benefit the inhabitants of Mesa County; and
WHEREAS, the Colorado River passes through the highly visible urban core
of the Grand Junction community; and
WHEREAS, the Colorado River is currently inaccessible throughout the
entire urban core area to both residents and tourists; and
WHEREAS, the riverfront and the 5th Street corridor are visually blighted,
creating a negative impression of the community to visitors and travelers;
and
WHEREAS, the riverfronts of the Colorado and Gunnison and their confluence
represent an underutilized natural resource which, if redeveloped, could
increase tourism, improve the economic well-being of the community, and
enhance the aesthetics of the Grand Valley.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GRAND JUNCTION CITY COUNCIL AND THE
MESA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS that:
1. The creation of the Grand Junction/Mesa County Riverfront Commission be
endorsed and supported.
2. The commission will act in an independent fashion to serve as the
principal coordinating body for the redevelopment and reclamation of the
Colorado River waterfront and its tributaries within Grand Junction and
Mesa County.
3. The commission will act to plan, advocate, and implement a multi-
faceted program to redevelop and reclaim the riverfront within the Grand
Junction and Mesa County.
4. The commission will consist of eleven members appointed by joint
approval of the City Council and the County Board of Commissioners. (
Initial commission members are described in Addendum A.)
5. The commission will undertake allowable actions necessary to facilitate
the redevelopment/reclamation of the riverfront
6. The commission shall conduct its work at the pleasure of the City
Council and the County Commissioners as long as necessary to accomplish
the above stated goals.
READ, PASSED and ADOPTED this 1st day of July, 1987.
/s/ O.F. Ragsdale
____________________
President of the Council
Attest:
/s/ Neva B. Lockhart, CMC
____________________
City Clerk
READ, PASSED and ADOPTED this 30th day of June, 1987.
/s/ R. W. Holmes
____________________
Chairman, County Commissioners
Attest:
/s/ Earl Sawyer
____________________
County Clerk
ADDENDUM A
The Grand Junction/Mesa County Riverfront Commission will consist of
eleven members appointed to joint approval of the Grand Junction City
Council and the Mesa County Board of Commissioners.
There will be four (4) ex-officio non-voting members representing the
following and appointed by the respective governing Board to hold office
at the pleasure of that Board:
Mesa County Commissioners
Maxine Albers
Dick Pond/Bob Homes (alternates)
Grand Junction City Council
Reford Theobold
Paul Nelson (alternate)
Town of Fruita
________
Town of Palisade
________
Initial terms of commission members will be as follows:
Three members to be appointed to three year terms;
Four members to be appointed to four year terms; and
Four members to be appointed to five year terms.
Upon expiration of terms, all subsequent appointments will be for three
years. Vacancies created by resignation will be filled by the City Council/
Board of Commissioners for the duration of the unexpired term.
The initial riverfront Commission members are:
Appointee Term Appointee Term
Judge William M. Ela,
Co-Chairman 5 Chris Jouflas 4
James M. Robb,
Co-Chairman 5 Ward Scott 4
Rebecca Frank 5 Harold Elam 4
Brian Mahoney 5 Pat Gormley 3
Helen Traylor 4 Jane Quimby 3
Bill Graham 3
Upon motion by Councilman Theobold, seconded by Councilman Nelson and
carried by roll call vote, the Resolution was passed and adopted as read.
Upon motion by Councilman Mantlo, seconded by Councilman Kirkhart and
carried, Councilman Reford Theobold was appointed to the Riverfront
Commission as an ex-officio non-voting member, and Councilman Paul Nelson
was appointed to the Riverfront Commission as an Alternate ex-officio non-
voting member.
Upon motion by Councilman Mantlo, seconded by Councilman Theobold and
carried, the City Council accepted the proposal from the Lions Club to
grant $100,000 to the Riverfront Project subject to the following
conditions:
1. The Grand Junction City Council must make a written commitment to
support the Riverfront Park Project and pledge $150,000 to be used in
connection with the Project.
2. The Council must establish a River Park Commission to act on behalf of
the City to coordinate all entities and efforts in order to complete the
Riverfront Project.
3. The City Council must agree to adopt the Riverfront Project into its
Park System and to maintain the Park in perpetuity for the benefit of the
citizens of the Grand Junction area.
4. The $100,000 donation will be phased over the three-year period as
follows:
A. $34,000 upon closing of a sale of Watson's Island after March, 1988.
B. $33,000 upon completion of the improvement of the Island for a park,
payable after March, 1989.
C. $33,000 upon dedication of the Island into the City Park System,
payable after March, 1990.
D. Payments per clauses A., B., and C. of this proposal are conditional to
an approval by the Lions Board of Directors regarding the Riverfront
Commission's progress on the acquisition and development of Watson Island
and the balance of the Lewis property.
5. If no land purchase is made or contracted for by June, 1990, this offer
to donate is void and all monies remain the property of the Grand Junction
Lions Club.
6. The Grand Junction Lions Club will also receive property recognition in
the form of a sign or plaque to be installed in a highly visible location
upon dedication of the Watson Island Park Site.