We're Glad You Asked!

Why is the City buying new trash trucks instead of funding police facilities?

Early in February 2010, City Council approved the purchase of four new trucks for the Solid Waste (Trash) Division.  These trucks are unique in that they will be fueled by compressed natural gas (CNG) as opposed to diesel.  There are plans to convert the entire Solid Waste fleet to CNG over the next several years.  The reasons for this have to do both with minimizing impacts on the environment as well as cost savings.  The City is working toward developing a CNG fueling station which will ultimately be supplied by converting digester gas from the Persigo Wastewater Treatment Facility into CNG.  The digester gas at Persigo has the potential to produce enough CNG to equate to 390 gallons of gasoline each day or up to 11,700 miles of light vehicle driving each day.  This will ultimately result in significant cost savings for the City in terms of fuel usage, not only in Solid Waste, but in several City divisions.  We also found that projected maintenance costs will be lower on the new trucks because of the type of compaction unit and the container lifting arm.  The increased compaction ratio equates to 55 fewer trips to the landfill per unit per year.  This available capacity will allow growth for the department before needing to add additional equipment and drivers.    

The Solid Waste Division, like several other specific operations in the City, is set up under City Council authority to operate as what is known as an ‘Enterprise Fund’.  Generally speaking, what this means is that Solid Waste is expected to operate much like an independent business, and it is not funded by the City’s General Fund.  City Council approves the rates to fund the operation of Solid Waste, the Division has its own budget (which includes equipment purchases), and is expected to operate within the confines of that budget.  The primary difference from a business though, is that Solid Waste is not permitted to make a profit.  Funds generated through fees for Solid Waste services can only be used for Solid Waste operations; not for any other City department or service.  As a result, funds generated in Solid Waste cannot be used for needs such as Police facilities; the General Fund must be used for those needs. 

How can the City participate in a newspaper story about upcoming ballot initiatives?

Recently we were asked by a newspaper reporter if we had assessed the potential effects on our organization of several ballot measures proposed for the November ballot.  The short, and responsible, answer is yes.  We stay on top of that type of information because it would be careless for us not to do so.  The reporter then asked if we would share our research with her, and we did.  It was a newspaper story initiated by the reporter and there was no money spent.

The City of Grand Junction remains abreast of all pending legislation and ballot issues both by conducting our own research as well as by meeting with local groups such as the Chamber’s Legislative Affairs Committee.  We do our homework so that we know in advance what effects - positive and negative - we can expect legislation to have on our community, revenues, programs, and services.  As we conduct our research, we also keep the members of City Council and City leaders informed so that they too are well versed on the topic and the potential effects we anticipate.          

Will we see burning ditches and weeds again this spring?

March 1st will mark the return of another burn season.  As Grand Junction grows it becomes increasingly difficult to balance the need for open burning against the potential property loss and health issues due to open burning. Open burning has a significant impact on those who have breathing problems. If you choose to burn, please be respectful when you do.

There are many options for cleaning irrigation ditches and getting rid of garden waste besides burning.  Composting, mulching or sending organic items to the composting facility at the landfill are reasonable alternatives. Tilling or disking organic trimmings into the ground improves soil condition.  The Grand Junction Fire Department strongly recommends you use one of these alternative methods of cleaning up waste. 

Spring brings unpredictable high winds that can send a controlled burn out of control very quickly. Be sure the material that is being burned is dry and ready to burn. Burning waste materials like wet leaves or lawn clippings can cause dense smoke and increases health hazards.  The Fire Department will be stepping up enforcement of non-regulation burning this year and steep penalties may be in store for those who aren’t willing to do what is required to burn safely.

For more information on open burning, contact the Grand Junction Fire Department or visit the City of Grand Junction Web site at www.gjcity.org and look for the link. 

Are Clifton and Fruitvale going to be annexed into the City of Grand Junction?

The answer to that question has yet to be determined and it will be based upon the desire of those who own property in Clifton and Fruitvale.  Since both areas are primarily located in the county, officials with Mesa County have been working closely with interested property owners to gather feedback and determine if there is a majority interest in annexation into Grand Junction.  The City of Grand Junction is waiting to hear the outcome of this effort.

Currently, a citizens committee and Mesa County are working to gather petition signatures from both residential and business property owners in favor of annexation.  In order for the petition drive to be successful three thresholds must be met: signatures must be gathered from more than 50% of all property owners in the areas; more than 50% of the total acreage must be represented by those signatures; and more than 50% of the parcels in the areas must be represented.  Mesa County hopes to know soon if the thresholds have been met.  If they have, the next step is for the petition and signatures to be forwarded to the City of Grand Junction.  The petition would first go to the City Planning Division for verification of the property holders’ signatures.  If the petition is found to have an adequate number of valid signatures, it would then advance to City Council.  City Council would then review a variety of criteria, including fiscal impact on the City.  If it is determined that the necessary criteria have been met, City Council would then bring the item to an upcoming City Council meeting for a public hearing and would take a formal vote on approval of the annexation.  If the petition does make it to that stage, the vote by City Council could take place sometime later this year. 

Mesa County recently created an informational video on the Clifton/Fruitvale petition process.  If you are interested in viewing it or have questions, please contact Kimberly Bullen with Mesa County at 244-1649. You can also view it online at http://channel12.mesacounty.us/ in the Archives folder. 

A lot of snow and ice still remains following the December snow storms.  Whose responsibility is it to make sure pedestrian areas are clear?

On those rare occasions when Grand Junction gets a taste of winter like we had in December, keeping walkways clear for pedestrians becomes extremely important.  City of Grand Junction Code requires that sidewalks adjoining your home and/or business must be cleared of snow, ice and debris within 24 hours after a snowfall.  The snow storm we had in December presented a number of challenges for a variety of reasons.

Due to the heavy snowfall followed by frigid temperatures, the December snow storm was unusual.  Much of the snow quickly froze which made removal difficult.  In addition, snow that was plowed from streets by City Streets crews was pushed on to some sidewalks.  Under typical winter conditions, this is easily removable, but when the sun refuses to come out and the temperatures plunge, the story is different.  Our Streets Division is re-visiting this practice in light of the problems it created and is assessing whether it is possible to approach this differently.

Freezing followed by thawing followed by re-freezing created another set of problems including gutter areas clogging and becoming impassable for some pedestrians.  City Streets crews put in extra effort to clear out many gutters, with the focus on high pedestrian areas such as schools, elderly care facilities, and hospitals.

  Here are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to snow removal:

• It is the responsibility of the property owner to keep all adjoining sidewalks clear all the way to the curb.  Simply shoveling the walk in front of your door is not sufficient; the entire pedestrian area of your property must be cleared.  If you live on a corner, this includes removal all the way out to and including the ramps that lead to the street.

• Snow removal is not always a “one shot” activity.  Often, it requires repeat removals – that is the nature of the beast.  We are fortunate here in the Grand Valley to typically have a snowfall followed by sunshine, but as was evidenced recently, that does not always happen.

• While shoveling your snow into the gutter is effective when the sun comes out, the same practice in cold, cloudy weather can create ice in gutters which impacts drainage and access.  Shovel your snow on to your yard as opposed to gutter areas when temperatures are frigid.

• Be neighborly!  If you have neighbors who are unable to get out and clear the walk, extend a neighborly hand and help them out.

Storms like the one we had in December are unusual and, fortunately, infrequent here.  When they do happen, it requires that we all do our part to make things as safe as possible for all drivers and pedestrians.

After the December 8 snowstorm, why did snow removal seem to take so long?

We certainly agree that the snow removal was slower than what you may have expected, but let’s go over some of the reasons why.  First of all, this was the most significant snow fall Grand Junction has experienced in about 25 years.  Our winters are generally pretty mild here and that alone is much of the reason this storm had such an impact on our community.  The other reason was the extreme cold that followed the snow; the combination compounded the difficulty of removal.   

The City maintains a Snow Desk where forecasts and conditions are monitored during winter weather.  When our Snow Desk was alerted to the impending snow storm, we quickly went to 12-hour shifts with our snow crews.  The City operates under a rather detailed snow plan and it is the intent of the plan to effectively organize and implement resources and personnel to provide the greatest possible safety and service to the public based on the need.  The mission is that a resident will only travel on one untreated street to reach a treated, cleared street. 

Our snow plan identifies “types” of snow storms by the quantity of snow received and the temperatures accompanying the snow.  The worst “type” of snow storm is a Class III, which is identified by greater than 6 inches of snow and freezing temperatures – this was a Class III, and as mentioned before, it has been a quarter of a century since this community has experienced this magnitude of storm.

For comparison purposes, let’s look at Flagstaff, AZ.  An entry in a local publication column indicated that recently Flagstaff was able to clear their main streets and begin work on residential streets within two days following a 26-inch snow storm.  That is very likely true.  The difference, however, is that Flagstaff, which is at 7,000 feet above sea level, is one of the snowiest incorporated cities in the United States and so they must always be prepared to respond to heavy snow fall.  They receive over 100 inches of snow annually, whereas Grand Junction receives 23. 

Flagstaff owns 36 pieces of snow removal equipment and employs 50 to 60 seasonal snow removal workers.  They are able to do that because due to the annual snow fall amount, there is work for the seasonal employees to do.  Another factor to consider is that recently, the daytime high in Flagstaff has hovered around 40 degrees, versus the frigid conditions we have been experiencing here.  That makes a significant difference in being able to adequately remove snow. 

One thing that many Grand Junction residents do not realize is that the crews who do our snow removal are the same folks who do street repairs in the summer, Leaf Pick-Up in the fall, and Spring Clean-Up in the spring.  In other words, we hire appropriately for the work that needs to be completed, but we don’t overhire for the “just in case” scenario - that would not be a prudent use of funds, nor would it make sense in terms of resource scheduling.  We also do not purchase extra equipment and have it sitting idle for the “just in case” scenario as that also would not be prudent.  We currently own seven snow plows and eight salt spreaders along with various other pieces of equipment, and that serves us quite well in our typical winter.  We brought in additional equipment and personnel to help out with this storm from the Water, Parks and Recreation, and Wastewater Departments.  We had crews working 24 hours a day, and we took a  strategic approach to the task.  However, we simply do not have the resources available to plow all residential streets, especially in a storm of this scope.  It would be wonderful if we did, but the bottom line is that we don’t.

During this storm, we put forth every effort to get the snow removed in the fastest and most efficient manner possible given what we had to work with.  Sometimes when you’re dealing with the wrath of Mother Nature, that is all you can do.  When the conditions combine to present a storm like we saw this time, we need to remember that when the unexpected happens we all need to work together and do our part to get through it the best we can.          

Why is the City spending money for a new irrigation system at Tiara Rado Golf Course?  Couldn’t that money be spent on something that is more necessary?

The short answer to that question is no, the money could not be spent elsewhere and the need at Tiara Rado right now is significant. 

Tiara Rado Golf Course, like several other specific operations in the City, is set up under City Council authority to operate as what is known as an ‘Enterprise Fund’.  Generally speaking, what this means is that Tiara Rado is expected to operate much like an independent business, and it is not funded by the City’s general fund.  It has its own budget, sets its own fees to fund its operation, and is expected to operate within the confines of that budget.  The primary difference from a business though, is that Tiara Rado is not permitted to make a profit.  If revenues exceed expenses, that money must go into a fund to be used for projects or for operating expenses in a down year. 

Tiara Rado is expected to fund its own capital projects out of its own budget as they are needed, and right now, the need is dire.  The irrigation system at Tiara Rado is nearly 40 years old and is showing its age.  When the present system was installed it had an expected useful life of 20-25 years, and currently it is experiencing significant issues including a power efficiency level of only 35%.

A quality irrigation system is the most vital piece of infrastructure for sustaining golf turf.  Quality golf turf is what keeps golfers coming back to a golf course.  For most golfers, a well-maintained golf course outweighs all other aspects of the facility in deciding to play a course again.

This new irrigation system will conserve water and power, and the new ponds will improve wildlife habitat.  Finally, it is also anticipated that one full-time position will be reduced at the course because it will no longer be needed as a result of the more efficient irrigation system.

Was the City Leaf Pickup Program off schedule this year?  

To begin with, let’s start with the reason the City offers the Leaf Pickup Program.  Fallen leaves can clog storm sewers after a rain or snow shower.  By picking leaves up, we keep our storm drains clear, which helps the City comply with Federal stormwater regulations.  

Just last year we traveled the equivalent of more than 1,100 miles to complete the program.  Compare that to the early 90’s when we traveled just over 400 miles.  As you can see, the program has grown quite dramatically.   
When we develop our pickup schedule each year, it is based on some assumptions, including “typical” weather patterns and conditions, but at times even the best laid plans don’t matter.  At the beginning of this year’s program, Mother Nature threw us a curveball in the form of some very early cold temperatures.  This caused a lot of leaves to fall much faster than they would have otherwise.  The freeze was followed by an early snow.  Snow creates two problems for us:  First, it saturates the leaves and makes them harder to work with; second, the same City employees who conduct the Leaf Pickup are also our snow plow drivers.  So, as you can see, we had quite a workaround to address.  Add to this the fact that we have reduced overtime expenses due to budgetary constraints in an effort to conserve for snow removal and other emergencies.  Clearly, all these circumstances created the perfect storm.  Although the work load did cause some delays, the majority of citizens offered their compliments and, thankfully, most people have been very understanding. 

So, yes, our schedule was off this year, but we believe we have been able to get everyone’s leaves picked up within a reasonable timeframe.  We may not have been there on the specific day indicated on our route map, but in most cases we did make it within the same week.  If for some reason we have missed you altogether, please give us a call at 244-1575.  We also have an online system called the “Fix It” that you can access here.     

Some of you have also asked why we no longer pick up bagged leaves.  Before recycling was an option, we used to pick up bagged leaves.  Now that the Mesa County Landfill Organic Material Compost Facility exists, we are able to take the leaves directly to be composted.  This way, we save room in the landfill and we contribute to a product that benefits the whole community because the Mesa County Landfill Organic Material Compost Facility makes wonderful compost that anyone can purchase for use in their yard or garden.

Why are City of Grand Junction employees getting pay raises during this economic downturn?
This is a rumor that has been floating around the community and we are not sure just where it started.  City of Grand Junction employees are NOT getting pay raises.  In fact, not only are no raises of any kind proposed for next year, but efforts are currently underway to trim the personnel budget as much as possible to balance the 2009 budget. We will also be implementing a 3% pay reduction for all employees in 2010.  We have implemented a hiring freeze for every position except critical personnel such as 911 dispatchers and police officers for which we received a Recovery Act grant.  So far, we are operating with 40 fewer employees than at the beginning of the year.  Our current staff-per-capita level is at the same level it was in 2002, and lower than it was in the mid-80’s.  Several employees have been moved from one department to another to help out during this slow down, and many employees have had new responsibilities added to their work loads.  No new positions are being proposed for the 2010 budget.

Additional reductions will be made through attrition and other voluntary methods.  These decisions are difficult to make because personnel costs comprise only 40% of the City’s overall budget.  Industry averages run closer to 80% of the overall budget being dedicated to personnel so, comparatively speaking, we actually operate leaner than most when it comes to personnel.      

Why is the City of Grand Junction getting ready to spend millions of dollars to refurbish Main Street?  
This is another widely held misconception.  The fact is the City is NOT getting ready to spend millions of dollars to refurbish Main Street.  The work that is slated for Main Street will be paid for primarily by the Downtown Development Authority (DDA).  The City will be paying for the upgrade to the very old utility lines that lie under the street in addition to project management, but the lion’s share of the project cost will be picked up by the DDA.  The Downtown Development Authority functions as a taxing entity, and the revenue it collects, and will draw upon to pay for the project, comes from businesses located in the downtown area.  These funds are not general sales tax revenues as many people believe - they are very specific to downtown. 

In late 2005, business and property owners within the boundaries of the downtown improvement district voted to impose a special assessment which would continue for ten years.  The revenues the DDA collects can only be used for development projects that benefit downtown.  Likewise, the 7th Street and Colorado Avenue improvement projects were both funded primarily by the DDA.  Many members of the community incorrectly believed that the City was the funding source for both of those projects as well, which we were not.  DDA funds, not City funds as many people believe, were used for the 7th Street improvement project, the Colorado Avenue improvement project and will be used for the Main Street Uplift project.       

Why does the Police Department need to have an external assessment of their Internal Affairs process conducted?
The decision to have an external assessment performed is not based on need, nor is it based on problems - the decision is based on sound business practices.  When Interim Chief John Camper joined the Grand Junction Police Department, he brought with him the experiences, knowledge and wisdom that come from many years working for another top-notch law enforcement organization.  Any law enforcement leader will tell you that the Internal Affairs (IA) function within a police organization is critically important and should be treated as such.  Shortly after Chief Camper arrived at the Grand Junction Police Department, he determined that he would like to authorize an external assessment of the IA process to verify that the process currently in place is modern and complete and that it includes the types of steps it must. 

The assessment will be conducted free of charge, other than minimal travel costs, by the Colorado Association of Chiefs of Police and will involve command-level personnel who are well-versed in IA processes from other municipal and state organizations.  It will also include involvement from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) as well as a retired Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agent.  The assessment is already underway and should be completed by year’s end.  A report should follow about a month after the completion of the assessment.

We're Glad You Asked!

Here at the City of Grand Junction, we sometimes find that incomplete stories or misinformation about the work we do circulates throughout the community.  The misinformation may begin with a news story, an entry in a blog, a column in a printed publication, information on someone’s Web site, or simply in the course of normal conversation.  From there it travels. Our challenge is that we rarely get the opportunity to respond before misinformation spreads so we want to take this opportunity to address some of the questions we hear most frequently.