Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — The city will be taking input from its residents Thursday during the daylong open house at Olympian Hall.

Council members and staff will be on hand to discuss the Steamboat Springs Community Plan Update, the Steamboat Springs Water Authority and the Community Survey results.

The open house will run from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., but staff and City Council members will be available from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

"It is just another way to seek input from the public," City Deputy Manager Wendy DuBord said. "We get information out and citizens can ask whatever questions they might have."

One of the major components of the open house will be the community plan update. A group of almost 90 residents in Steamboat and Routt County have been working on the update plans.

Thursday's open house will present the results of the first step of the project, where 10 working groups designated top issues for areas such as community design, economic development and sustainability, historic preservation and land use.

City Planner Tom Leeson said members of the working group, who have been working since May to identify top priorities in the community plan update, will also be on hand for questions.

"The community plan is a very public process," Leeson said. "The public can give us additional feedback (at the open house)."

When the city was discussing holding an open house for the community plan update, they also thought it would be a good chance to incorporate the two other community issues.

DuBord said representatives from Mount Werner Water will also be present to discuss the water consolidation agreement, which has become a hot topic in the last few weeks.

On Nov. 5, voters will be asked to approve the consolidation between Mount Werner Water and the city. Past City Council members have spoken about the authority, fearing it would establish unequal rates between the two entities and give too much power to the authority.

But lead negotiators in the merger City Council President Kathy Connell and John Fetcher, former manager of Mount Werner Water said without consolidation, rates would never be uniform and the city would need to implement an immediate rate increase.

The open house will also give residents a chance to ask questions about the results of the 2002 Community Survey. Copies of the survey will also be available, DuBord said.

The city has held open houses in the past, with the most recent occuring when the city was going through the planning process for Centennial Hall.

"From time to time, we try to get information out to the public and get input back. We know a lot of people don't go to council meetings," DuBord said.

From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., council members Arianthe Stettner, Steve Ivancie and Bud Romberg will be present. Connell will be available from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Council members Paul Strong and Nancy Kramer will answer questions from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Councilman Loui Antonucci has not yet set a time.