The Salida City Council held its first work session of the month on August 5, 2024. The agenda was deceptively short; the cost recovery analysis and the discussion of the civility request were both of great importance to the future of the council. The meeting lasted nearly two hours.

The library presents analog

Donated books arrive for the Salida Regional Library book sale in March 2024. Photo by Carol MacKelvie

Susan Matthews, director of the Salida Regional Library, presented statistics from 2023. She said that each year, approximately 115,000 people visit the library to borrow more than 240,000 items from its collection of over 62,000 books, nearly 10,000 DVDs and nearly 3,000 audiobooks – and that’s not even including the online offering.

Matthews also drew attention to the library’s “borrowing” section, where people can borrow kits with supplies to try everything from pickleball to ice cream making to baby care. She mentioned the programs the library offers (319 different programs in 2023) and the collaborations with local entities like Chaffee County Public Health and the Public Arts Commission.

Finally, Matthews announced the bookmobile: a bus that will travel to churches and community members to give them a taste of the Salida Regional Library. It is geared toward the senior population in Salida and Poncha Springs. It will make regular stops and will also be present at community events.

Poncha Springs residents can use the bookmobile not only to get a taste of the 2,500-book collection, but also to access and receive assistance with technology and participate in reading events for children.

The council praised Matthews and the library for the help they provide to the community, especially the elderly and homeless in Salida. “A lot of my people don’t have computers or Wi-Fi, but so many of our services depend on it, so we depend on you,” said Council Member Alisa Pappenfort.

Salida Airport makes a landing

Next up was Zech Papp, owner of Salida Airport. He began his presentation by giving the City Council a poster celebrating Salida Airport’s Airport of the Year award win. “We’re going to get a frame for it,” said City Manager Christy Doon. It’s been a few years since the airport has been present at a work session; however, it’s budget time now and they’re on track to do even more good work over the next two years.

New runway work at Salida Airport. Photo courtesy.

Salida Airport serves about 10,000 flights each year, about three times as many as it used to. The annual operating budget is about $600,000, and the budget for capital improvements ranges from $440,000 to $1 million, depending on the year.

In 2024, Salida Airport has begun replacing fuel tanks installed when the airport was built in 1974 and planning an extension of Taxiway Alpha. To fund these projects, the airport receives contributions from the city, county and grants, but also makes a lot of money from the sale of fuel, which accounts for about 87 percent of the airport’s revenue.

As operations increased, so did fuel sales. Due to the increased demand for fuel sales, the airport needed regular staff. There are currently three people working at Salida Airport, which is staffed seven days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The airport currently has an investment plan that extends to 2031. The dates are not certain as funding is not secured. The main focus is on an extension of the runway. A longer runway will provide more space for more aircraft to be accommodated in their next destination, more hangars.

The airport is also eyeing a piece of land on the plateau. If the airport is to expand, it will have to be on that piece of land. Due to previous unfortunate planning, airport officials need to use the existing space more efficiently. The infrastructure is currently a “spider web” of power and water pipes; a significant obstacle to better use of the current land.

Council member Naccarato suggested that the airport should switch to electric motors at some point in the future. However, since Salida Airport is heavily dependent on its fueling facility, that would have to be far in the future. Airport Manager Zech Papp noted that if everyone switched to electric motors, the airport would not generate any revenue. With electric motors come charging stations. These would be placed at a new terminal that is too far in the future to imagine.

All airports in Colorado are lease-based; all airlines and private owners pay a fee to store their aircraft there. More hangars mean more aircraft, more fuel sales, more operations, more financing and more revenue. The total of 44 hangars that Salida Airport plans to build could accommodate an additional 60 to 70 aircraft. This could result in a completely self-sufficient airport.

Although the fuel storage improvements were not included in the budget, they are necessary to prevent environmental problems. Their future will require improvements to Taxiway Alpha and the infrastructure of the entire facility. “It’s a big challenge,” Papp said, but he promises it will be worth it. “Keep that in mind while Aimee (Tihonovich) is telling you how much money we don’t have.”

Parks & Rec and Arts & Culture Cost Recovery Presentation

The main event was a presentation by Diesel Post, Salida’s Parks and Recreation Director, who was joined by Patrick O’Brien, Arts and Culture Director, to discuss subsidizing public services. The presentation began with the question, “What is the current level of subsidy for services and how much are we comfortable with right now?”

Both the Parks & Rec and Arts & Culture departments, which both manage numerous community facilities and events, are struggling to find the money to continue subsidizing so many of these sites for those who use or host them.

Around 2019, when Salida’s Recreation Manager Theresa Casey retired, the City reorganized and created the two departments mentioned above. This created discrepancies in the facilities’ subsidy models; these discrepancies resulted in lax subsidization of various community assets that many people and groups demand. This presentation and discussion was intended to share the experiences of staff, the community, and Council regarding subsidization.

Since 2021, many facilities such as the Aquatics Center, SteamPlant, and Scout Hut have become increasingly expensive for the city; both facilities cost about $200,000 more to operate and manage. Some organizations even pay for use of community facilities with “barter money.” The City Council often responds to the personal and community appeals, as all City Council members are members of the community. Stricter rules and regulations regarding subsidies give the City Council something to fall back on.

Just one of the slides from Diesel Post and Patrick O’Brien’s reimbursement presentation.

Post’s presentation detailed service categories that group similar services together and assign a subsidy percentage to each. This approach benefits the city because each department does not have to “set cost recovery expectations for each individual service” and makes it more difficult for members of the City Council or other city departments to influence costs through their own interests and values.

Costs are roughly determined by how much they serve the community. “Common good” services, such as free-to-enter events and community health and education programs, are required to pay very little (0 to 20 percent). “Individualized” services, such as private lessons and items for resale, are not subsidized, and providers may even have to pay back a portion. Discussion has just begun, and the plan is not final; some council members have expressed their opinions on how costs might play out. O’Brien mentioned that they can certainly work with any group to some degree if needed or possible. Post specifically used the word “negotiation” later in the discussion.

The council talked about sponsorship by those who are subsidized, arts and theater, the Parks, Recreation, Open Space, Trails Advisory Board (PROST) and events that “deserve” a subsidy and how much. “We need to get rid of the one-time grants and standardize them to make it easier for staff,” Salida Mayor Dan Shore said during the council discussion. “At the amounts we currently subsidize, we could increase the amounts, but people have been upset that we are not giving them enough low-cost deals at *that level*. That would be like people coming at them with pitchforks.”

He described the discussion as “captivating” and praised everyone involved for their commitment. “It’s an important conversation.”

Politeness and repetition – is that too much?

The last item on the agenda was the discussion of the civility bills. At a meeting last month, Councilman Justin Critelli suggested that instead of simply posting them somewhere, they should be read at the beginning of each meeting.

Suggestions were made in abundance: a five-bullet list that covered everything one member had seen at the Colorado Municipal League; adopting a resolution to amend to show the council’s commitment to civility; an affirmation at every meeting, like a pledge to civility; even calls from citizens who want to hear a particular part read aloud. Mayor Dan Shore said he wants to maintain consistency by displaying it at every meeting. The council plans to reconsider that decision if a “wave of incivility” arises.

Councilmember Fontana had her own concerns. She wants the “unique Salida” list to stay as it is. It has taken a lot of time to put it together. The five points discussed at CML and the Salida Civility Invocation can be compared and contrasted and then combined. Until then, the unique Salida list will be posted at every meeting.

“We could put the original on the website,” Pappenfort said. “We know people don’t read.”

The meeting was adjourned amidst chatter and laughter.

Featured image: Salida City Council meeting room. Photo: Merrell Bergin