Updated SMART transit service Intergovernmental Agreement allows future sales tax increase

Option for up to 2% voter-approved sales tax to fund service expansion.

- above photo -
Rico students board SMART van
for morning ride to Telluride
Ore Cart - May 21, 2024

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Rico Board of Trustees Meeting
May 15, 2024

In this report

1. SMART IGA amended to allow for higher sales tax
2. Construction rules and regulations ordinance penalties for violation considered
3. Disturbance permit, subdivisions moratorium, final plat condo conversion
4. Trustee appointed, November election will have 3 terms expiring

1) SMART IGA amended to allow for higher sales tax 

The San Miguel Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART) Board of Directors are proposing an amendment to its Intergovernmental Agreements (IGA) with all local jurisdictions, such as Town of Rico.

Recent changes by the Colorado Legislature allow for collections of up to 2% sales tax by regional transit authorities. The proposed SMART IGA specifies that sales tax collections will match what is allowed by the State of Colorado.

SMART Operations Manager Kari Distefano presented plans and optipns to expand SMART services at the Rico Boardof Trustees regular monthly meeting May 15, 2024 at Town Hall.

“SMART Board of Directors believes this is particularly important as they are considering future options related to public funding of new gondola operations, maintenance, capital improvements, and expanded services,” explained Rico Town Manager Chauncey McCarthy in the Trustees Meeting Packet.

The IGA amendment will align with recent Colorado legislation to increased the sales tax limit which transporation authorities may seek:

The San Miguel Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART) Board of Directors are proposing an amendment to the current IGA in place with all local jurisdictions. The amendment addresses language in the existing IGA, which states that sales tax collections by SMART are capped at 1%. There have been recent changes by the State Legislature to allow for collections of up to 2% sales tax by regional transit authorities. The updated SMART IGA language will now remove language related to any specific percentage of sales tax being collected, and now simply note that collections will match what is allowed by the State of Colorado. SMART Board of Directors believes this is particularly important as they are considering future options related to public funding of new gondola operations, maintenance, capital improvements, and expanded services.

source:
Rico Trustees Meeting Packet
May 15, 2024

. . .

The current SMART sales tax is 0.25%, stated David Averill, SMART Executive Director. SMART will takeover operation of the Telluride - Mountain Village gondola later this decade, and is working on a ballot question for mil levy increase.

San Miguel Authority for Regional Transportation map of Rico route
source: Rico Trustees Meeting Packet
May 15, 2024

. . .

Trustees voted unanimously to approve the SMART IGA amendment

In a follow-up May 20, 2024 phone conversation, SMART Operations Manager Kari Distefano explained that a SMART sales tax increase would approval of voters in the SMART jurisdiction. 

. . .

Description of SMART
services & areas (below)
excerpted from SMART website

What services does SMART operate and/or fund?

• Norwood bus service
• Down Valley bus service
• Off-season shuttles between Telluride & Mountain Village
• Lawson Hill enhanced service
• Rico shuttle
• San Miguel County commuter shuttles
• Mountain Village commuter shuttles
• Trails for commuting
• Lawson Hill Park & Ride*

*The Town of Mountain Village provided funding for fifty percent of the Lawson Hill Park & Ride solar panel installation.

. . .

What areas does SMART serve?

The boundaries of SMART include Telluride’s R-1 School District, approximately the eastern portion of San Miguel County and beyond. The initial SMART membership includes the current transit providers in Telluride, Mountain Village, and San Miguel County. The goal is to “start small” and work toward other member jurisdictions in the future. The Towns of Ophir and Sawpit chose not to be included in preliminary SMART inclusion but have the option of joining at a later date.

source:
SMART website ↗

map source:
Rico Trustees Meeting Packet
May 15, 2024 

2) Construction rules and regulations ordinance with penalties for violations considered

Trustees approved the first reading of proposed Ordinance 2024-03 to adopt Construction Rules and Regulations with penalties for violations. The ordinance would regulate:

• Access and Parking
• Blasting
• Construction Equipment and Material Storage
• Debris and Trash Removal
• Construction Hours
• Deliveries
• Hazards Marked
• Fire Protection
• Prohibited General Practices
• Roadway Maintenance
• Dust and Mud
• Sanitary Facilities
• Signage
• Site Specific Requirements
• Violation, Liability and Penalty

3) Disturbance permit, subdivisions moratorium, final plat condo conversion

Disturbance permit

Town of Rico is requesting that the setbacks from the wetlands are reduced to the restrictive inner buffer zone of 25 feet. This application went before the Planning Commission at their May 8, 2024 meeting and was approved by a 5-0 vote.

The disturbance site is the location of a new pavillion, skate park and pump track south of the existing Town of Rico Public Works Shop. Construction of these facilities is planned to begin

Trustees voted unanimously to approve the Town of Rico disturbance permit.

. . .

related
Grant for park approved, forest resiliency reviewed ↗
Ore Cart - March 26, 2024

 map source:
Rico Trustees Meeting Packet
May 15, 2024
Ore Cart edit to add labels

. . .

Subdivisions moratorium

First reading of Ordinance 2024-02 an Ordinance of the Town of Rico, Colorado extending the temporary moratorium on the acceptance of new land use applications for major or minor subdivisions, and residential or commercial planned unit developments.

Ordinance No. 2022-13, the Town imposed a temporary moratorium on the acceptance of new applications for Major or Minor Subdivisions and for Residential or Commercial Planned Unit Developments through June 30, 2023 to limit increasing the water system demand while it reviewed alternatives for water system improvements to increase water availability as well as options for funding said improvements.

On June 21, 2023 the Town extended the moratorium through December 30, 2023 pursuant to Ordinance No. 2023-03 to preserve the status quo as it continued evaluating water system improvement and funding alternatives to increase water availability to meet the demands of future growth and development within the Town.

Town is currently mapping the water system and preparing an asset management plan to preserve, protect and enhance the portions of the water system currently in use including, without limitation, installation of an automatic meter reading system to track daily water use and flag leaks to help decrease system wide water usage.

An extension of the moratorium is required to preserve the status quo as the Town continues efforts to secure funding for necessary water system improvements, and to obtain bids for design and construction of the water system improvements.

Trustees voted unanimously to approve the first reading of Ordinance 2024-02.

. . .

Final plat condo conversion

Resolution 2024-02 approving the final plat of the Bedrock Common Interest Community, Lot 6, Bedrock Subdivision for the creation of 10 condominiums on the Bedrock subdivision Lot 6. This application went before the Planning Commission at its April 10, 2024 meeting and was approved, 4-0.

Trustees voted unanimously to approve Resolution 2024–02.

4) Trustee appointed, November election will have 3 terms expiring

Town of Rico received two letters of interest for the first of two Board of Trustees vacancies. Trustees appointed Cristal Hibbard to fill this vacancy. The remaining vacancy will be apppointed at the June 2024 monthly Board of Trustees meeting..

Town Clerk Anna Wolf reported on the November 2024 election. Two Trustee seats and Mayor terms will expire. The two appointed Trusteees may require election, depending on Home Rule Charter interpretation by Town legal advisers.

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