Council Goals Envision a safe, flourishing downtown that provides a strong commercial tax base Strive to be active stewards ofe existing aging infrastructure Recognize importance of experience, well trained, and community minded staff Ensure its electorate is well informed of on-going successes and future plans Envision a safe, secure community for its families and youth Promote redevelopment of existing businesses and neighborhoods and increase quality of life for all its residents  AGENDA La Junta, Colorado March 20, 2023 6:00 PM Council Chambers Municipal Building 601 Colorado Avenue  REGULAR MEETING LA JUNTA CITY COUNCIL  CALL TO ORDER (Mayor Ayala) INVOCATION (Council Member Mcintyre) PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE (Mayor Ayala) ROLL CALL (City Clerk) Council Members Ramirez Velasquez Mcintyre Ayala Ochoa Vela Pantoya  Supervisors  Others  MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS (Mayor) (Action) Regular Meeting March 6, 2023  CITIZEN PARTICIPATION FOR NON-AGENDAITEMS ONLY (5-minute time limit per person)  NEWI BUSINESS  A. Liquor Licenses (City Attorney) (Action)  1. Application for Renewal of a Hotel & Restaurant Liquor License Mexico Café 2. Application for Renewal of a Tavern Liquor License by Red Dog Revisited LLC, d/b/a  by  City  Inc., d/bla Mexico City Café, 1617 Raton Avenue Red Dog Revisited, 709 E. 3rd Street  B. Committee/Board Reports C. City Manager's Comments D. Governing Body Comments  E. EXECUTIVE SESSION FORA Al DISCUSSION OF Al PERSONNEL MATTER UNDER C.R.S. $24-6-402(4)(F) AND NOT INVOLVING: ANY SPECIFIC EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE REQUESTED DISCUSSION OF THE MATTER IN OPEN SESSION; ANY MEMBER OF THIS BODY OR ANY ELECTED OFFICIAL; THE APPOINTMENT OF ANY PERSON TO FILL AN OFFICE OF THIS BODY OR OF AN ELECTED OFFICIAL; OR PERSONNEL POLICIES THAT DO NOT REQUIRED THE DISCUSSION OF MATTERS PERSONAL TO  PARTICULAR EMPLOYEES  F.A ADJOURN    Page 1 of3  CITY COUNCIL MEETING - March 6, 2023  Subject to approval at the March 20, 2023 City Council Meeting  STATE OF COLORADO COUNTY OF OTERO CITY OF LA. JUNTA  ) )ss  CALL TO ORDER: A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of La. Junta, Colorado, was called to order by Mayor Ayala on Monday, March 6, 2023, at 6:05 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the Municipal  Building.  INVOCATION: Pastor Matt Whitt, Calvary Church  PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Ayala led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance.  ROLL CALL: The following Council Members were present:  Damon Ramirez, Ward 1 Paul Velasquez, Ward 1 Elaine McIntyre, Ward 2 Joe Ayala, Mayor Chandra Ochoa, Ward 2 Edward Vela, Ward 3 Lisa Pantoya, Ward 3 none  Absent:  Also present: Rick Klein, City Manager  Bill. Jackson, Asst. City Manager Phil Malouff Jr., City Attorney Melanie Scofield, City Clerk Paula Mahoney, Admin. Asst. Aliza Libby, Director of Finance Julie Worley, Chamber of Commerce Amanda Krische, Young AmeriTowne Kelli Holland, Young AmeriTowne Kristine Rios, Woodruff Library Kimberly Gallegos, Woodruff Library Gary Cranson, Utility Board Adrian Hart, SECO News William Macdonald, La Junta Bette McFarren, RF Gazette  MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING: Mayor Ayala asked if there were any corrections or additions to the minutes of the Regular City Council Meeting of February 21, 2023. Hearing none, the mayor asked  for a motion to approve the minutes as published.  MOTION TO ACCEPT THE FEBRUARY 21,2023 MINUTES AS PUBLISHED: Vela  SECOND: Pantoya DISCUSSION: There was no discussion VOTE: The motion carried 7-0    Page 2 of3  CITY COUNCIL MEETING - March 6, 2023  U.S. SENATOR BENNET'S OFFICE - Renee Martinez is the contact for constituents who need assistance with the VA, IRS, and Social Security. Senator Bennet's priorities are: agriculture, climate and clean energy, conservation, democracy, economy and jobs, education, fiscal responsibility, health care, immigration, justice and equality, national security and foreign policy rural communities and CITIZEN PARTICIPATION FORI NON-AGENDA ITEMS (5-minute time limit per person): 1. Julie Worley, Chamber of Commerce: The Chamber of Commerce brought Young AmeriTowne on the Road to La Junta and Three Corners Connector sponsored. The project was set up at the Armory. It is a project that teaches 4th, 5th, and 6th graders, finance, philanthropy, entrepreneurshp, and free enterprise. There is a curriculum done in the classroom prior to arriving to Towne. Kelli Holland and Amanda Krische are with Young AmeriTowne on the Road. Young Americans Center for Financial Education is a non-profit introduced into Denver by Bill Daniels. He originated the bank as a for profit bank. He wanted it to be ar more education-Dased bank rather than a money- making bank. There is everything for young people as an adult bank has just in a kid like way. Checking accounts, savings accounts, certificates of deposit, bank loans, all of the things. The community in Denver wanted it to be more than just a bank, that's when the non-profit was There is about eighteen hours of curriculum that the teachers do in the classroom before they get to AmeriTowne. They learn all about banking, budgeting and government along with philanthropy. In the Towne, they use their debit cards, write checks and have cash. Their goal is to try and make a profit for their business after their business has paid back their bank loan. Another goal is to not overdraw their personal checking account. It's really exciting to be able to expand and we look Julie Worley thanked Mr. Klein and the council for the use oft the Armory at no charge. 2. Council Member McIntyre: Has a constituent concerned about an asphalt area that is deteriorating  Veterans.  originated and that's where Young AmeriTowne came into play.  forward to next year.  by Boss Hoggs going into the parking area off of Third Street.  NEW BUSINESS A. Committee/Board Reports  1. Senior Citizens Advisory Board (Council Member Velasquez):  Information regarding the increase in dues will go outi in the Senior Center newsletter.  2. AVRMC Board (Council Member Mcintyre):  Handed out the 1st Quarter AVRMC employee newsletter.  D. City Manager's Comments  Received a letter from the State of Colorado Department of Local Affairs informing us that La Junta RISE has been accepted to advance to Designated status in the Colorado Main Street Program. The City will be receiving an additional $7,500.00 to the mini-grant due to The Brick and Tile playground is being constructed. They should finish within two weeks. Poured the floor for the bathroom for the Brick and Tile Park. Will start building walls in 28 Working with CDOT and the Army Corps of Engineers on our 404 permit in order to start the  our advancement in tiers. Working on the rate study for utilities.  Applied for direct funding for the runways and back-up generation.  days.  bidding process for thet trail.  Had another main break on the 1400 block of Belleview Avenue. Have softball, baseball, andi tennis programs starting at our facilities. Have ordered the scoreboard for Veteran's field.  The Senior Center is having an open house on April 21st from 1-3 showcasing their services.    Page 3 of3  CITY COUNCIL MEETING - March 6, 2023  Crack filling on 22nd-24th on Belleview Avenue and replacing street signs.  ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION:  The council cannot be the principles in organizing the committee for the next ballot issue. The committee will be created by the end of the month. Anyone interested in  being on this committee may reach out to Mr. Klein.  E. Governing Body Comments 1. Council Member Vela:  Next Sunday is Daylight Savings Time. Don'tf forget to set your clocks forward. The Knights of Columbus has put in a newi floor in the entire building. The new half wall has Handed out information regarding the services, amenities and programs that are offered by The Friends of the Library meet on the third Thursday at 5:30 p.m. Those who would like to Been reaching out to the Colorado Rockies organization. It's harder to have camps and training in rural Colorado for our kids down here. May 19th has been scheduled for a camp for the youth in the La Junta area. Brock and Rufus have been helping in getting this going.  been taken down and ar new one put up.  2. Council Member Ramirez: our local library. 3. Council Member' Vela: 4. Mayor Ayala:  join, show up or send Kim an email.  Also working on the Broncos.  There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 6:40 p.m.  ATTEST:  CITY OF LA. JUNTA Joe Ayala, Mayor  Melanie R. Scofield, City Clerk    City Manager Comments  We are looking at chipsealing about 29 blocks this year.  The Brick and' Tile playground is being constructed. Weather has slowed it down We poured thei floori for the bathroom for the Brick and Tile Park. We will start building walls We should receive the Army Corps of Engineers 404 permit in order to start the bidding EPAI is going tos start testing for PFAS. We are working with our engineers on this. Wel have 200 kids signed up for soccer. Only 13 kids in the 7th-gth grade, so we don't have We have ordered the scoreboard for Veteran's field, they can't deliver it until the end of July. The Senior Center is having an open house on April2 21st from 1-3s showcasing their services.  in 28 days.  process for the trail in the next couple of weeks.  enough kids to play.