Six separate federal and state natural resource management agencies currently operate twelve different facilities throughout Chaffee County. According to the city, each of these has expressed interest in a partnership to consolidate existing and proposed facilities into a single, multi-agency campus.

A feasibility study completed in July 2006 included a review of four potential locations as well as an economic impact analysis. The economic study found that the construction of the center would result in $26.6 million in (mostly) local spending and $3.9 million in new annual spending.

The campus will likely be located on Vandaveer Ranch, adjacent to Highway 50. The MOU, which will guide the cooperative effort by Salida and Chaffee County, was signed earlier Tuesday by commissioner Frank Holman.

City Administrator Lewis described the resource center as “a true economic development project that the city has gotten behind for all the right reasons.”

Copp, who lives with his family in Centennial and has been commuting in order to fill the role, said he enjoyed his time in Salida and if the timing had been different he might have been tempted to stay on permanently. He joked that he told Lewis: “If I had known how much fun I’d have, I wouldn’t have brought [you] on.”

When asked about highlights of his tenure, Copp mentioned the employee pay plan, the establishment of a municipal complex in the old hospital building and the passage of recent taxes which will improve both streets and opportunities for recreation.

• The employee pay plan brings compensation for city employees closer to the median pay for employees in similar positions, Copp said. He explained the improved pay plan has had a postive impact on employee morale and lessened somewhat the likelihood of losing qualified staff to higher-paying jobs elsewhere. Copp made it clear, however, that Salida still does not pay even the median rate for most positions, leaving the city at a disadvantage in attracting and retaining qualified personnel.
• Copp said moving city offices into the old hospital building will allow greater efficiencies in communication between departments and improve public-facing facilities like the council chambers.
• The passage of 2A provides for street improvements, a consistent theme among complaints by residents. A contract to a local company, PMS, for street sealcoat and overlay was approved at Tuesday’s council meeting. Copp emphasized that keeping work local and working with local companies was important to him.
• Money from the occupational lodging tax will help repair the hot springs pool and fund local trail improvements. According to Copp, substantial progress has already been made in improving the hot springs pool, another frequent target of complaints. The city has obtained a grant which will pay for a new hot water line from the hot springs in Poncha, which will save money in heating costs and allow the pool to live up to its billing as using hot spring water. Plans are in place which will utilize 2B money to fix the locker rooms and shower areas which have long been in disrepair.
• Revenues from 2B are also slated to pay for other recreational and cultural amenities including trails. Salida’s relatively mild climate makes mountain biking, hiking and trail running possible even at times of year when most other mountain towns are dealing with mud and snow. Copp acknowledged that communities such as Fruita, Colorado and Gallup, New Mexico have shown that well-constructed trail systems can contribute to economic development via increased tourism and relocation. In partnership with Absolute Bikes and Salida Mountain Trails, the city has purchased a trail-building machine which will allow volunteers to work more efficiently. The goal, Copp said, is to “get people here and give them more opportunities to stay and recreate.”

The new City Administrator, Jack Lewis, faces a number of challenges, according to Copp. Given the current economic outlook, “Jack, Jan and the city council will have to be vigilant” and will need to revisit the budget during the first quarter. The “remarketing” of Vandaveer and the proposed development of the hot springs property in Poncha Springs are two other issues which Copp expects to be front-and-center on Lewis’ desk.

Copp paid compliments to the city council and department heads, saying that everyone works very hard for the best interest of the city. “I hope they’ve learned as much from me as I have from them.” At Tuesday’s council meeting, Copp thanked the council and the citizens of Salida for the opportunity to be City Administrator. “I think that the citizens will greatly benefit from improved roads and improved recreational opportunities…. You should be proud of your accomplishments.”

Mayor Pro-tem Hugh Young acknowledged Copp’s professionalism, saying: “you came at a time when we really needed some expertise and some leadership here in the community and you’ve provided that above and beyond the call of duty…you’ve done a wonderful job.” Other members of the Council echoed Young’s praise.

Having conducted a similar search in Glenwood Springs, Copp said he has some experience in the niche of helping cities through interim periods, but didn’t have firm plans for the next month. With a characteristic smile, Copp said he was looking forward to a bit of time off.

It has been my pleasure to have served the City of Salida, its Mayor and Council and citizens as Interim City Administrator for the past four months. When I took this job in July, I never realized how special a place Salida is and how much the residents work at making it a great community. I have enjoyed my time as Interim Administrator, but part of my job was to help the Mayor and City Council find my replacement and hire a permanent City Administrator who will help lead the City for years to come.

We have narrowed the search for the City Administrator to six semi-finalists. We have asked these applicants to answer a series of questions posed to them and to have those answers on video. On Thursday November 20^th the Mayor and Council reviewed these videos and will make a decision as to the finalists for the position. The names of the finalists will be made public.

The City will invite the finalists to Salida on December 4^th to meet the City staff and to get a tour of the City and all of its facilities. That evening the City will host a “meet and greet” reception for the applicants. The social gathering will be open to the public and it will present a tremendous opportunity for all of the citizens of Salida to meet the City Administrator applicants and to let their Council members know their thoughts. The next morning the Mayor and City Council will have formal interviews with the administrator candidates. These interviews, as well as input from the City Staff and Salida citizens will form the basis for the selection of the new Salida City Administrator. This will be one of the most important decisions your mayor and Council members will make as it will determine the chief officer for the City for years to come. The new City Administrator should be on board and performing the duties of the office by early January.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Mayor and City Council for giving me the tremendous opportunity to be the Interim City Administrator for Salida. I would further like to thank them, all City employees and mostly all of the citizens of Salida for their support and kindness.