Monday, October 27, 2025

The City Council met in a regular session at 7:06 p.m. in the Council Room with Mayor Crespin presiding.

Present:   Joe Gonzales, Shalah Mata, Gerry Jenkins, Kirk Crespin, David Zavala, Manuel Tamez, Kristin Schwartz, Mitch Hammes

 Brent Bates by Zoom

Absent:   Lance Clark

Consent Agenda

Councilmember Jenkins moved and Councilmember Mata seconded to approve the consent agenda Items 1-4. 

Item #1 – Approval of Council Meeting Minutes – 10/13/2025

Item #2 – Approval of Minutes for Boards and Commissions

a)    Utilities Board – 9/23/2025

Item #3 – Payment of Bills

General Fund-Vouchers #103348 - #103451

Item #4 – License New/Renewals

a)    Fermented Malt Beverage – (Off) – Love’s Travel Stop #23, 615 N. Main St.

b)    Liquor Store License – Olive St. Station, 403 E. Olive St.

c)     Tavern License – Desiree’s, 104 E. Beech St.

• Voting Yes:   Gonzales, Mata, Jenkins, Crespin, Zavala, Tamez, Bates
• Voting No:    

Mayor Crespin stated “Let the record reflect that all Councilmembers voted an affirmative, motion passes 7-0”.

Audience Participation

None

City Treasurer Report

City Treasurer Schwartz reported they are getting ready to go out for bid on the Willow Valley Water Project in the next couple of weeks.  She stated that Tess was able to get the grant submitted for the body cameras that was approved at the last meeting.  They continue to look for grant opportunities to support the 2026 budget process.  Tyler update, they got through their configuration last week on payroll and ran their payroll on their own this week.

City Clerk Report

City Clerk Williams gave a reminder that Election Day is next week, all ballots are due to the Prowers County Clerk & Recorder’s office no later than 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 4, 2025.

City Administrator Report

Lamar High School Play

City Administrator Hammes reported that the Lamar High School is hosting the Tales of Terror – The House of Stories Play on Tuesday, October 28, 2025 6:00-7:30 p.m.

PMC Health Fair

City Administrator Hammes announced that the PMC Health Fair Screening is Wednesday, October 29, 2025, 7:00-9:00 a.m. at PMC by appointment.

Prowers County Public Health Flu Clinic

City Administrator Hammes announced that Prowers County Public Health Flu Clinic is Thursday, October 30, 2025, 1:00-5:00 p.m.

Fellowship Credit Union Trunk or Treat

City Administrator Hammes announced that Fellowship Credit Union Trunk or Treat is Thursday, October 30, 6:00-7:30 p.m.

Halloween Night Events

• Lamar Public Library Trunk or Treat, 5:00-7:00 p.m. in the south parking lot
• Lamar High School Trick or Treat Street, 3:30-5:00 p.m.
• SDS Trunk or Treat, 5:00-7:00 p.m.
• Halloween Party at the LaMar, 6:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.
• AM Breakfast House 2nd Annual Haunted House, 6:00-8:00 p.m.
• Trunk or Treat plus Movie at Pica Dulce by Shai, 7:00-9:00 p.m.

Lamar Elk’s Trunk or Treat

City Administrator Hammes announced that the Lamar Elk’s Trunk or Treat is Saturday, November 1, 2025, 6:00 p.m.

LCC’s Annual Art, Craft & Food Festival

City Administrator Hammes announced that the LCC Annual Arts, Craft, & Food Festival is Saturday, November 1-2, 2025

Election

City Administrator Hammes announced that election ballots are due back on Tuesday, November 4, 2025 by 7:00 p.m.

Common Grounds

City Administrator Hammes announced that Common Grounds is Wednesday, November 5, 2025, 7:00 a.m. in the Cultural Event Center.

Department Updates

• Fire and Police Department will be set up at Tractor Supply on Saturday, November 1, 2025 from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. for a recognition event.
• Fire Department is still working on getting the new engine set up and fully equipped.
• Police Department new Code Enforcement Officers have completed their training and are on the road.  The police department will be participating in the trunk or treat in the south parking lot.  The police department is hosting a CBI cold case investigation training with other area law enforcement agencies.
• Parks and Recreation announced that the archery range is now open, the official grand opening will be held in the spring.  The fish cleaning station is almost complete and this will finish the recent Fishing for Fun Grant.  Volleyball, Football and Soccer season has finished with their final tournaments over the weekend.
• Public Works Street Department has been working on utility cuts before plant closes at end of the season.  Water Department has been busy replacing water meter MTU’s as part of the software upgrade.
• IT Department has completed the camera project at the Community Resource/Senior Center.  They are working on the wireless backhaul from the Swimming Pool to the Scout House and then will be upgrading the internet at the pool.
• Community Development, Anne-Marie announced that she attended the Colorado Chapter of the American Planning Association, the City of Lamar received a merit award for its comprehensive plan.  The conference provided valuable information regarding housing, prop 123 monies, dwelling units, adaptive planning, etc. also talked about communication with our peers.
• With Brenda May’s resignation they are thinking about shifting responsibilities for greater efficiencies.  The position is posted on the website as the Community Programs Manager. 
• New development with an interested business is in the works, they are facilitating conversations and updating processes with department’s heads and developers to position ourselves for further growth.  Along with this the building department team is coming on strong with getting their credentials and making sure the building projects are getting completed appropriately.

Miscellaneous

Councilmember Gonzales asked if the archery range is open and free to the public.  Do they need to register or sign in anywhere?  To use the range outside of town requires you to have a small game license or purchase a habitat stamp.  It is suggested that people are directed to the Parks & Recreation Department for this type of direction.

There will be a media post put out regarding the archery range.

Council Liaison

Golf Board Update

Councilmember Gonzales reported that the golf board purchased new range balls and the ones they had purchased they did not like and would be selling them.  They have finalized the watering and fertilizing for the season and turned the water off.  They just held their last tournament the Zach Rankin Memorial Scholarship Tournament and the 2-Shot Golf Tournament was a great success.

Fire Department Update

Councilmember Jenkins wanted to give big congratulations to Captain Duffy for completing his Bachelor’s degree in Fire Science in Fire Management and Fire Investigations.  She also want to say thank you to both fire and police that were involved in this morning’s accident.

Daylight Savings Time

Councilmember Tamez gave a reminder that this coming Sunday is Daylight Savings Time.

OLD BUSINESS

Ordinance No. 1281 – “An Ordinance to Levy and Collect Taxes in the City of Lamar, Colorado for the Fiscal Year Beginning January 1, 2026”

Councilmember Jenkins moved and Councilmember Mata seconded to approve Ordinance No. 1281 – “An Ordinance to Levy and Collect Taxes in the City of Lamar, Colorado for the Fiscal Year Beginning January 1, 2026”.

• Voting Yes:   Gonzales, Mata, Jenkins, Crespin, Zavala, Tamez, Bates
• Voting No:     None

Mayor Crespin stated “Let the record reflect that all Councilmembers voted an affirmative, motion passes 7-0”.

Ordinance No. 1282 – “An Ordinance Providing for the Appropriation of Revenues and Expenditures and Adopting the Budget for the City of Lamar, Colorado, for the Fiscal Year Beginning January 1, 2026”

Councilmember Jenkins moved and Councilmember Mata seconded to approve Ordinance No. 1282 – “An Ordinance Providing for the Appropriation of Revenues and Expenditures and Adopting the Budget for the City of Lamar, Colorado, for the Fiscal Year Beginning January 1, 2026”.

• Voting Yes:   Gonzales, Mata, Jenkins, Crespin, Zavala, Tamez, Bates
• Voting No:    

Mayor Crespin stated “Let the record reflect that all Councilmembers voted an affirmative, motion passes 7-0”.

NEW BUSINESS

Ports to Plains Update

Mike Duffy provided a Ports to Plains update, he included 3 handouts for Council to review for possible resolutions.  He also reported that TxDot gives out a yearly award called Rode Hand, this year it went to a Colorado local Joe Kiely of Limon for rode improvement.

Parade Route Discussion with Potential Decision

There was discussion on parades on Main St. and the cost associated to having them on Main Street versus one of the side streets.  There was recommendation that possibly 2 parades on Main St. such as Lamar Days and Sand & Sage and the remaining parades on a side street.  It was requested that a work session be scheduled for October 27, 2025 to go over details and create a plan and cost for the different locations of parades.

Councilmember Tamez moved and Councilmember Jenkins seconded to give staff the direction on working towards total costs for different parade routes with the city possibly waiving up to the first $1,000.00.

• Voting Yes:   Gonzales, Mata, Jenkins, Crespin, Zavala, Tamez, Bates
• Voting No:    

Mayor Crespin stated “Let the record reflect that all Councilmembers voted an affirmative, motion passes 7-0”.

Discuss and Schedule a Special Joint Work Session with North Lamar Sanitation District and Prowers County Commissioners

Councilmember Tamez moved and Councilmember Bates seconded to approve setting a special joint work session with North Lamar Sanitation and Prowers County Commissioners on November 18, 2025 at 6:00 p.m.

• Voting Yes:   Gonzales, Mata, Jenkins, Crespin, Zavala, Tamez, Bates
• Voting No:    

Mayor Crespin stated “Let the record reflect that all Councilmembers voted an affirmative, motion passes 7-0”.

Special Meeting Request

Councilmember Jenkins moved and Councilmember Mata seconded to approve setting two special meeting dates for the reading of the ordinance updating Chapter 30 Zoning.  Dates will be November 3rd & 17th, 2025 at 5:30 p.m.

• Voting Yes:   Gonzales, Mata, Jenkins, Crespin, Zavala, Tamez, Bates
• Voting No:    

Mayor Crespin stated “Let the record reflect that all Councilmembers voted an affirmative, motion passes 7-0”.

Miscellaneous

None

Executive Session – (1)For the Purpose of Determining Positions Relative to Matters that May be Subject to Negotiations, Developing Strategy for Negotiations, and/or Instructing Negotiators Under C.R.S. 24-6-402 (4)(e) regarding City Administrator (2) Cancelled

Councilmember Jenkins moved and Councilmember Mata seconded to enter into Executive Session – (1) For the Purpose of Determining Positions Relative to Matters that May be Subject to Negotiations, Developing Strategy for Negotiations, and/or Instructing Negotiators Under C.R.S. 24-6-402 (4)(e) regarding City Administrator (2) Cancelled.

• Voting Yes:   Gonzales, Mata, Jenkins, Crespin, Zavala, Tamez, Bates
• Voting No:     None

Mayor Crespin stated “Let the record reflect that all Councilmembers voted an affirmative, motion passes 7-0”.

Regular meeting recessed and executive session convened at 7:57 p.m.

Councilmember Jenkins moved and Councilmember Bates seconded that executive session adjourn at 9:04 p.m. and open meeting was reconvened.

• Voting Yes:   Gonzales, Mata, Jenkins, Crespin, Zavala, Tamez, Bates
• Voting No:     None

Mayor Crespin stated “Let the record reflect that all Councilmembers voted an affirmative, motion passes 7-0”.

Adjournment

There being no further business to come before the Council, Councilmember Jenkins moved and Councilmember Zavala seconded that the meeting adjourn.

• Voting Yes:   Gonzales, Mata, Jenkins, Crespin, Zavala, Tamez, Bates
• Voting No:     None

Mayor Crespin stated “Let the record reflect that all Councilmembers voted an affirmative, motion passes 7-0”.

The meeting adjourned at 9:05 p.m.

Linda Williams – City Clerk 

Kirk Crespin – Mayor