Wednesday was Grand Junction’s City Council’s first meeting for the month. The meeting took place one day following the municipal election. Highlights included Mayor Phylis Norris retaining her seat and the city voting down 2A.
During the meeting, citizens discussed the results. Norris beat out Jesse Daniels for the spot of mayor by getting 7,745 votes. Daniels finished with 5,334 votes.
In District E, Duncan McArthur ran unopposed to retain his seat on the council. Colorado Mesa University business professor Rick Taggart was also successful in retaining his seat, beating out C. Lincoln Pierce 8,188 to 4,288.
The lone council member who was unable to retain his seat was Martin Chazen. Chazen was beat out in District D by C.E. Duke Wortmann who received 7,619 votes to Chazen’s 5,433. Wortmann will not take his seat until the first meeting in May.
Also up for vote were measures 2A and 2B. Measure 2A was the measure for the Event Center/Two Rivers Convention Center Sales Tax Increase while 2B was for Road Construction Funding.
Measure 2B passed with 9,553 votes to 5,447. However, measure 2A failed handily, with the No/Against totaling 10,606 votes to the Yes/For’s 4,493 votes.
The 15,301 votes tallied during this election was the biggest turnout for the election in Grand Junction’s history.
“So, we had a very large turnout this year,” County Clerk Stephanie Tuin said. “The largest that we have ever had number wise. The percentage was above average because we had more registered voters.”
Forty-one and a half percent of people in Grand Junction came out to be a part of the city election. However, one council member is not satisfied with that percentage.
“One of the […] rights that we have in this is the right to vote,” council member Chris Kennedy said. “Sometimes I fail to understand why people don’t exercise that right. It is such a fundamental voice that we have in our community. So, I encourage those of who have voted if you know someone that did, give them a little shove and tell them to get involved in the next election.”
“That is how your voices are heard. That is how decisions get made. And that is how your community thrive into the future.”
During the meeting the City Council also discussed and voted on one resolution and two ordinances, all of which passed 7-0.
One of the ordinances that passed was centered around off-campus living for fraternities and sororities. The ordinance requires that all off-campus fraternal housing is required to
- Be located within 500 feet of the core campus and in a residential zone;
- Register annually with the City and provide proof of good standing with the fraternal organization and with the university;
- Meet density requirements of the zone district, but have no more than 35 residents in a single residence or 4 in a single room;
- Provide sufficient off-street parking, space per occupant, buffering and screening;
- Meet all fire, health, building and safety codes; and
- Keep and report annually data on police/emergency calls to the house.
The City Council’s next meeting is scheduled for April 19 at 6 p.m.
