Our future is what we make it - together!
Our goal is to provide accurate information on important issues affecting Pagosa Springs, CO. For too long, small pessimistic factions have divided us. We deserve better and together we can create our future. It's time for change.
Vote NO on Ballot Question "A"
In November of 2019 the Town Council approved the formation of an Urban Renewal Authority (URA) - a tool that enables the Town to create Public-Private Partnership (PPP) for the furtherance of Town goals - all subject to approval by Town Council.
In April of 2020, a petition was submitted to the Town that creates a new Town Ordinance. If approved, the Ordinance would restrict the Town government, and URA, from exercising their rights and accomplishing Town goals. More importantly the proposed ordinance is unlawful as it violates state law. The proposed Ordinance, Ballot Question "A", conflicts with state law and violates several court cases already decided on the mater (case law). So, if Ballot Question "A" is approved, the Town will be required to defend an unlawful ordinance, costing tax payers tens of thousands of dollars, or more, and ultimately losing.
Upon further research into the origin of the petition it has been discovered that the initiators of the petition knowingly misled petition signers about the nature and legality of the petition in an apparent attempt to force tax payers to pay for their personal agenda.
From Town Leaders:
"It's not legally valid. Disappointing and an incredible waste of time and money…inviting a lawsuit the Town is going to lose." - Greg Schulte, former Town and County Manager, Chairman of Hospital Board.
"I think the initiators of the petition have an agenda. You see what the actual information is there in front of you. It would be the Town's time and resources and money defending it. Not theirs." - Clay Buchner, Town Attorney.
"The URA has a lot of power to do a lot of good." - Councilmember, Matt deGraff,
The petition signers were misled:
"If I was a town person and I had signed that [petition] and they didn’t tell me that it's probably not legally valid, I'd feel misled." - Greg Schulte, former Town and County Manager, Chairman of Hospital Board.
"It seems to me that this is public information that people need to know before they vote...at least provide truth and accurate information to the public and the voters who will be making a decision on this ballot measure." - Mayor Don Volger
"If petitioners and voters understood the ramifications of the petition, they wouldn't be supportive." - Councilmember Nicole Demarco
"This Type of ordinance would have to be something that's changed at the state level, through the state legislature, to change these laws." - Natalie Woodruff, County Assessor
From the initiator of the petition, during a public meeting about the legal issues with the proposed ordinance:
"I'm very disappointed to hear this whole discussion about the facts." - Bill Hudson, blogger
Conclusion:
The petition and proposed ordinance are ill-conceived and clearly motivated by the personal agenda of a small anti-change faction that is seeking to use tax dollars to thwart progress in Town. We can't support this ordinance and believe it's a clear waste of tax dollars and hinders the achievement of Town goals such as affordable housing, diversification of our economy and community-minded growth.
Vote NO on Ballot Question "A".
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