City Council Minutes
Monday, March 10, 2025
The City Council met in a regular session at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Room with Mayor Crespin presiding.
Present: Joe Gonzales, Shalah Mata, Gerry Jenkins, Kirk Crespin, Manuel Tamez, Brent Bates Rob Evans, Kristin Schwartz, Lance Clark
Absent: David Zavala
Consent Agenda
Councilmember Jenkins moved and Councilmember Bates seconded to approve the consent agenda Items 1-4 with the corrections of Mayor to Mayor Pro-Tem and removal of consent agenda item 4 in the 2/24/2025 minutes.
Item #1 – Approval of Council Meeting Minutes – 2/24/2025
Item #2 – Approval of Minutes for Boards and Commissions
- Utilities Board –2/11/2025
- Main Street Lamar Board – 2/03/25
- Lamar Historic Preservation Board – 10/15/2024
Item #3 – Payment of Bills
General Fund-Vouchers #101531-101662
Item #4 – Licenses – New & Renewal
- Hotel/Motel – Jalo Properties, LLC, 208 S 11th St. Lamar, CO 81052
- Fermented Malt Beverage & Wine – Safeway Store #1721, 906 E. Olive St.
- Fermented Malt Beverage & Wine – JR’s Country Store, 1115 N. Main St.
- Retail Fermented Malt Beverage & Wine – Family Dollar Store #24291, 1301 S. Main St.
- Voting Yes: Gonzales, Mata, Jenkins, Crespin, Tamez, Bates
- Voting No:
Mayor Crespin stated “Let the record reflect that all Councilmembers voted an affirmative, motion passes 6-0”.
Audience Participation
None
City Treasurer Report
City Treasurer Schwartz reported that they have opened bids for the engineering of the TAP Grant and are reviewing, this will be brought back to Council at the next meeting.
City Treasurer Schwartz reported that herself and Tess Camp attended a webinar on federal funding and at this time have not heard anything on the Brownfield Grant status.
City Treasurer Schwartz stated they have been moving forward with Tyler, working through uploads and inputting information in the system for financials, payroll, and utility billing.
City Clerk Report
City Clerk Williams reported that the February revenue report reflected collections of $408,187.16 which was up 14.50% or $51,699.67. Year to Date collections were $1,002,760.75 which was up 5.23% or $49,872.61 from 2024.
City Administrator Report
Coffee with Rob
March 19, 2025 – Brew Unto Others
March 26, 2025 – AM Breakfast House
Lamar Elks: St. Patrick’s Day Casino Night
City Administrator Evans announced that the Lamar Elk’s is hosting a Casino Night on Saturday, March 15, 2025, 7:00 – 11:00 p.m.
District 6SE Colorado Lions Convention
City Administrator Evans announce that the District 6SE Colorado Lions Convention is Friday-Sunday, March 14-16, 2025 at the Historic Cow Palace Inn.
Tri-State 911 Fundraiser
City Administrator Evans announced that the Tri-State 911 Fundraiser is Saturday, March 22, 2025, 6:00-9:00 p.m. at the Historic Cow Palace Inn.
Project Update
- City Administrator Evans gave project updates on the items below:
- Public Works began working all putting millings down in the alley ways along with continued work on the lead line service inventory project.
- Parks continues work on Escondido Park and working on LCC Agreement.
- Library continues to have many events happening
- IT Department continues work on the Tyler Software along with placing temporary security cameras at the public safety building.
Miscellaneous
Councilmember Jenkins asked if anything could be done with all of the trucks and trailers around town that are full of junk on the side streets, makes it very hard to see around when coming up on intersections.
Mayor Crespin stated that Doug Harbour requested number of Council attendees for the Annual 9-11 Auction and Fundraiser.
Mayor Crespin also stated that he met the new LCC Athletic Director, the Director would like to have his athletes get more involved in community events.
Reports and Correspondence from Council
Golf Board Update
Councilmember Gonzales announced that the annual board meeting will be March 22, 2025 with main discussion being the raising of membership dues and voting on new Boardmember. He also stated that the Ice Breaker Tournament to kick off the season is March 29, 2025.
Thank you
Councilmember Mata wanted to thank Lamar Light & Power for all they have done during the recent wind storms.
Citizen Request
Councilmember Jenkins has received a request from Christiana Montanez, Student President of Yahweh Today, a Christian club at LCC. They are hosting a Jesus March on April 12th beginning at LCC down Savage Ave. to 9th St. to Park St. then west to Bicentennial Park. They are requesting use of the Bicentennial Park.
Council asked that they get in touch with the Parks & Recreation Dept. to set up.
Main Street Lamar Update
Councilmember Bates reported that they have new light pole banners going up soon and they are gearing up for the Corporate Cup.
Senior Center Board Request
Mayor Crespin was asked to attend the next Senior Center Board meeting and wanted to extend the invite to Councilmember Mata as well.
Cub Scout Invite
Mayor Crespin reported that he was asked to attend a recent Cub Scout meeting to talk about being Mayor and what it involves.
PMC
Mayor Crespin reported that PMC is encouraging the use of their OB Department since LaJunta recently closed theirs. They also now have 2 full-time general surgeons and have extended the days that they will do ortho surgeries.
Miscellaneous
None
NEW BUSINESS
Consider Approval of Sand & Sage Round-Up Request
Councilmember Jenkins moved and Councilmember Tamez seconded to approve the Sand & Sage Round-Up Request for overnight parking during the Wild West BBQ Cook-Off Thursday-Saturday, April 24-25, 2025.
- Voting Yes: Gonzales, Mata, Jenkins, Crespin, Tamez, Bates
- Voting No: None
Mayor Crespin stated “Let the record reflect that all Councilmembers voted an affirmative, motion passes 6-0”.
Ports to Plains Alliance: Letters of Support for CDS/CPF Allocation to Update Lamar Reliever Route Environmental Assessment
Councilmember Tamez moved and Councilmember Jenkins seconded to approve Ports to Plains Alliance Letters of Support for CDS/CPF to Update the Lamar Reliever Route Environmental Assessment.
- Voting Yes: Gonzales, Mata, Jenkins, Crespin, Tamez, Bates
- Voting No: None
Mayor Crespin stated “Let the record reflect that all Councilmembers voted an affirmative, motion passes 6-0”.
Schedule a Public Hearing for a Special Event Permit for the Lamar Chamber of Commerce Cinco de Mayo Event
Councilmember Tamez moved and Councilmember Bates seconded to approve to schedule Public Hearing on April 14, 2025 for a Special Event Permit for the Lamar Chamber of Commerce Cinco de Mayo Event.
- Voting Yes: Gonzales, Mata, Jenkins, Crespin, Tamez, Bates
- Voting No: None
Mayor Crespin stated “Let the record reflect that all Councilmembers voted an affirmative, motion passes 6-0”.
Appointment of an Alternative Member to the Adjustment and Appeals Board
Councilmember Gonzales moved and Councilmember Jenkins seconded to approve the appointment of an alternative member Earl Hawkins to the Adjustment and Appeals Board.
- Voting Yes: Gonzales, Mata, Jenkins, Crespin, Tamez, Bates
- Voting No: None
Mayor Crespin stated “Let the record reflect that all Councilmembers voted an affirmative, motion passes 6-0”.
Appointment to the Library Board
Councilmember Jenkins moved and Councilmember Bates seconded to approve re-appointment of George Gotto to an expired five-year term expiring February 1, 2030.
- Voting Yes: Gonzales, Mata, Jenkins, Crespin, Tamez, Bates
- Voting No: None
Mayor Crespin stated “Let the record reflect that all Councilmembers voted an affirmative, motion passes 6-0”.
CDOT Aeronautics Grant Agreement 25-LAA-01 Runway 18/36 and Taxiway A Pavement Maintenance
Councilmember Bates moved and Councilmember Tamez seconded to approve the CDOT Aeronautics Grant Agreement 25-LAA-01 Runway 18/36 and Taxiway A Pavement Maintenance in the amount of $300,000.00 with a $33,334.00 cash match and authorize the Mayor to sign Resolution and authorize the Mayor to sign through Docusign for the grant acceptance.
- Voting Yes: Gonzales, Mata, Jenkins, Crespin, Tamez, Bates
- Voting No: None
Mayor Crespin stated “Let the record reflect that all Councilmembers voted an affirmative, motion passes 6-0”.
FAA AIP Grant Application for Airport Improvement Project LAA AIP 027
Councilmember Mata moved and Councilmember Bates seconded to approve the LAA AIP 027 Grant application for Airport Improvement Project in the amount of $91,000.00 with a $5,056 match from the City and a $5,055.00 match from CDOT and authorize the Mayor to sign.
- Voting Yes: Gonzales, Mata, Jenkins, Crespin, Tamez, Bates
- Voting No: None
Mayor Crespin stated “Let the record reflect that all Councilmembers voted an affirmative, motion passes 6-0”.
Approval of Amendment to Agreement with State of Colorado Department of Labor & Employment
Councilmember Tamez moved and Councilmember Bates seconded to approve the Amendment to Agreement with State of Colorado Department of Labor & Employment.
- Voting Yes: Gonzales, Mata, Jenkins, Crespin, Tamez, Bates
- Voting No: None
Mayor Crespin stated “Let the record reflect that all Councilmembers voted an affirmative, motion passes 6-0”.
Approve Resolution 2025-03-01 – “A Resolution of the City Council of Lamar, Colorado, Expressing Opposition to Federal Agencies Intentions to Acquire State, Local, and Private Land Unilaterally without Local Government Collaboration of Use of Established Processes”
Councilmember Bates moved and Councilmember Tamez seconded to approve Resolution 2025-03-01 – “A Resolution of the City Council of Lamar, Colorado, Expressing Opposition to Federal Agencies Intentions to Acquire State, Local, and Private Land Unilaterally without Local Government Collaboration of Use of Established Processes”.
- Voting Yes: Gonzales, Mata, Jenkins, Crespin, Tamez, Bates
- Voting No: None
Mayor Crespin stated “Let the record reflect that all Councilmembers voted an affirmative, motion passes 6-0”.
Miscellaneous
City Administrator Evans asked that those Council members that are going to CML please get with Mary as soon as possible to set up reservations.
Executive Session – For Discussion of Personnel Matters C.R.S. 24-6-402 (4)(f)Evaluations of City Administrator, City Clerk, and City Treasurer
Councilmember Tamez moved and Councilmember Jenkins seconded to enter into Executive Session – For Discussion of Personnel Matters C.R.S. 24-6-402 (4)(f)Evaluations of City Administrator, City Clerk, and City.
- Voting Yes: Mata, Jenkins, Crespin, Zavala, Tamez, Bates
- Voting No: None
Mayor Crespin stated “Let the record reflect that all Councilmembers voted an affirmative, motion passes 6-0”.
Regular meeting recessed and executive session convened at 7:44 p.m.
In attendance was City Administrator Evans
Councilmember Jenkins moved and Councilmember Tamez seconded that executive session adjourn at 8:46 p.m. and open meeting was reconvened.
- Voting Yes: Mata, Jenkins, Crespin, Zavala, Tamez, Bates
- Voting No: None
Mayor Crespin stated “Let the record reflect that all Councilmembers voted an affirmative, motion passes 6-0”.
Adjournment
There being no further business to come before the Council, Councilmember Jenkins moved and Councilmember Gonzales seconded that the meeting adjourn.
- Voting Yes: Gonzales, Mata, Jenkins, Zavala, Tamez, Bates
- Voting No: None
Mayor Crespin stated “Let the record reflect that all Councilmembers voted an affirmative, motion passes 6-0”.
The meeting adjourned at 8:47 p.m.
Linda Williams – City Clerk
Crespin – Mayor