City Link 2011-1.pdf - City of Fruita

www.fruita.org
Mayor Ken Henry
858-9486
CityLink
Winter Spring 2011
Lori Buck
858-7767
Bob Fuller
985-9497
Mel Mulder
858-9008
FRUITA COMMUNITY CENTER OPENS
AHEAD OF SCHEDULE AND UNDER BUDGET
Years of community discussions, meetings, fundraising efforts, design,
construction, and finally…IT’S OPEN! The Fruita Community Center
officially opened on Monday, January 24th and hundreds of people per day
have been taking advantage of the amenities the facility has to offer – the
senior center, indoor pool, gymnasium, meeting rooms, child care, fitness/
wellness area, and of course, the new Fruita Branch Library.
Community response has been extremely positive and more and more
people have been making good use of the new facility, including Governor
Hickenlooper, who hosted a regional economic development meeting at
the new center.
There are many groups and people who have helped make the Fruita Community Center a reality and each and every
person who has been involved deserves credit and a great big THANKS! First and foremost, the Fruita senior community
is credited with planting and nurturing the idea for the Community Center twelve years ago. Since then, the seniors
collected enough aluminum cans to raise approximately $90,000 to put towards the construction.
The Fruita Community Center wouldn’t be standing today if it weren’t for the many organizations and people who
campaigned, fundraised and donated to the project. The Citizen Campaign Committee and the Citizens Fundraising
Committee deserve a great amount of gratitude for coordinating these critical efforts. Over $2 million was raised to help
pay for the construction of the center – Thank you to all those who donated! Here is a list of the major donors to the
Fruita Community Center:
Stacy Mascarenas
250-5724
Department of Local Affairs
Great Outdoors Colorado
City of Fruita Senior Task Force
Boettcher Foundation
Gates Family Foundation
El Pomar Foundation
The Daniels Fund
Grand Junction Lions Club
Mesa County
Bacon Family Foundation
Mesa County Area on Aging
Be Cool! Fill the Pool Campaign
Goodwin Foundation
Alpine Bank
Fruita Thrift Shop
Jamie and Deb Hamilton
Fruita Rotary Club
Fruita Lions Club
Terry Moss
985-2413
A special thanks goes to the team that designed and constructed the Fruita Community Center: Sink, Combs, Dethlefs
(architects) and FCI Constructors, Inc. (contractor). The team members worked every day to design a functional and
efficient facility while constructing a high-quality product that was cost effective. At the end of the project and with their
assistance and guidance, Sink Combs, Dethlefs and FCI Constructors helped the City of Fruita to come in under budget
on the project and open the facility ahead of schedule.
Bruce Bonar
858-4418
Fruita City Council
If calling City Hall at 858-3663
does not answer your questions,
please feel free to contact any
of your City Council members.
See inside for more info on the Rec Center,
progress on the new wastewater facility,
winter construction projects and more!
1

BRANCH LIBRARY OPENS
The City of Fruita’s primary partner in the Community Center
project is Mesa County Public Libraries. Located off the main
lobby of the Fruita Community Center, the new 6,646 square
foot Fruita Branch Library is the first new library constructed
in the valley since 1901. The new facility offers a quiet reading
room, an expanded children’s room, tremendously expanded
computer access, and an outstanding staff to answer all your
questions. This partnership has proven to be a win-win for the
entire community.
NOW THAT WE ARE OPEN
The Fruita Community Center staff has been working
tirelessly to open the Community Center in the most
successful manner possible. Everyone from lifeguards to
maintenance to the front desk is working to balance large
crowds while learning the operational intricacies of a brand
new facility. Everyone (community members and city
staff alike) is working together to create an outstanding
experience for Fruita and provide a tremendous asset to the
community.
In the first two weeks of operations, the Front Desk staff
worked with over 2,000 pass holders and they continue to
explain policies and procedures to all our new attendees.
The Senior Center has hosted its first few lunches and has
been experiencing great participation. Fitness and wellness
programs are just the beginning at the center. The aquatics
staff continues to keep a watchful eye on the indoor pool
to ensure that all patrons are safe. We are continually
evaluating to ensure that the proper staff levels are in place
to provide a safe, comfortable environment for everyone.
As the facility continues to get off the ground and get into
an operational groove, city staff is looking for feedback. We
are constantly evaluating the comments we are receiving in
order to improve the Fruita Community Center experience.
Please be sure to fill out a comment form or talk to a staff
member to give us your insight into the operations of the
facility.
The Fruita Community Center is a great example of
people coming together to build a facility that the entire
community can use and be proud of. If you haven’t visited
the Community Center yet, come on down and discover
what’s available to you!
GYM POOL LIBRARY CHILD CARE
Monday-Friday
6:00 am – 9:00 pm
Monday-Friday
6:30 am – 8:30 pm
Monday-Friday
9:00 am – 6:00 pm
8:00 am – 1:00 pm AND
4:00 pm – 8:00 pm (Except Friday)
Saturday
7:00 am – 8:00 pm
Saturday
7:30 am – 7:30 pm
Saturday
9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Saturday
8:00 am – 12:00 pm
Sunday
Noon – 6:00 pm
Sunday
Noon – 5:30 pm
Sunday
Closed
Sunday
Closed
Hours are subject to change
2

WINTER CONSTRUCTION
Most Coloradoans are familiar with a typical spring season starting with an onslaught of orange barrels lining the streets and traffic detours
allowing us to take the scenic route. However, those of you who have been driving around Fruita this winter may have wondered if the seasons
have shifted early. This is because there has been a considerable amount of construction completed over the winter. Of course, there are the
two large-scale facility projects including the continued construction of the new Wastewater Treatment Plant and the completion of the Fruita
Community Center, but there have also been a few less glamorous (but equally critical) projects going on, too. These projects include roadway
improvements, utility upgrades, and a new pedestrian bridge. The following provides some information on these other City of Fruita projects.
East Ottley Avenue Reconstruction
This roadway reconstruction improvement project is a joint project between the City of Fruita and Mesa County that includes upgrading utilities,
widening of the roadway, and installing sidewalks on East Ottley Avenue between Arches Drive and Fremont Street (18 ½ Road). This section of
Ottley Avenue has been closed to limited traffic since early January for the installation of the underground utilities with anticipated road closures
continuing through April until the final asphalt paving is completed. This project will complete the road section for Ottley Avenue east to Fremont
Street (18 ½ Road) with a Mesa County roadway improvement project planned for the near future to widen the road from Fremont Street to 19
Road. We realize the inconvenience this closure presents and appreciate your patience.
South Mesa Storm Sewer
Over the winter, there have been 10 manholes, 6 inlet structures and approximately 4,000 feet of storm sewer pipe installed along South Mesa
Street south of Concord Drive. This project is entirely funded through an Energy Impact Grant and development impact fees collected. This
project has also had a considerable amount of traffic detours and lane closures for the installation of the storm sewer improvements. However,
the completion of the project will provide reduced potential flooding and improved drainage for the neighboring subdivisions along South Mesa
Street. Completion of this project is anticipated to be in April once all asphalt patching can be completed.
Little Salt Wash Pedestrian Bridge
A new pedestrian bridge crossing Little Salt Wash is now open to the public. This very cool pedestrian bridge provides a critical link to the city’s
trail system and access to Little Salt Wash Park from the subdivisions on the opposite side of the wash. The uniqueness of this pedestrian bridge is
evident by its extra sturdy appearance that is a direct result of custom fabricating primarily from materials the City had on hand from past projects.
This method proved to culminate into a cost savings of over 30% compared to purchasing a traditional pedestrian bridge. Although the pedestrian
bridge is open to the public, final work will include paving of the trail up to the bridge once warmer weather allows.
Little Salt Wash Pedestrian Bridge
As spring approaches, additional construction maintenance projects will begin with a number of roads to be overlaid, chip sealed, and/or restriped.
Again, the City appreciates your patience during these types of construction projects and encourages you to call the Engineering Department at
(970) 858-8377 if you have any questions or concerns.
3

FRUITA RESIDENTS PARTICIPATE IN BIKE/PEDESTRIAN STUDY
Over 30 Fruita residents attended an Open House on
January 19th to give the City their views on future pedestrian
and bike improvements they would like to see constructed
in Fruita. The Open House was part of the Fruita Bike/
Pedestrian Study the City is conducting for the next few
months.
The study will look at the need and locations for pedestrian
walkways, crosswalks, trails, transit stops, bicycle facilities
and bike lanes, as well as safety issues for both bicyclists
and pedestrians. The safety of children walking or biking
around schools will get significant attention.
It’s important for people who live in the Fruita area to give
us their opinions to help us prioritize our capital program
for improving bicycle, pedestrian and transit projects.
We’ve received a lot of valuable comments from the Open
House and the surveys, and we will use that to compile a list
of possible future improvements. The list will be evaluated
by criteria such as cost of the project, availability of right-ofway,
proximity to schools, and overall benefit of the project.
Many Fruita residents have already done just that. There
are two online surveys about the study on the City’s website
at www.fruita.org. The surveys will remain online through
March. Look for the link from the home page to the “Fruita
Pedestrian/Bike Survey.” Residents are being asked to give
us their list of the top three “worst” places to walk or bicycle
in Fruita, and the three “best” places to do so. You can take
the survey and/or see the results to date.
Fruita residents will also be able to weigh in on their
priorities at the second Open House this spring. That
event is scheduled for Wednesday, March 30 from 4 to 7
PM at the Fruita Community Center, 324 N. Coulson.
DOWNTOWN IMPROVEMENTS PLANNED
The City is continuing efforts to improve the downtown
area and spur more business activity. To provide more
room on Aspen Avenue sidewalks for outdoor dining and
other activities, the City will be widening the sidewalk in
front of Sullivan’s Grill and Camilla’s Kaffe. The planters
near these businesses will remain.
While shopping downtown, don’t forget; in addition to
the parking available on Aspen Avenue, there is free public
parking farther east along Aspen Avenue, at the Civic
Center, on Mulberry Street across from the Hot Tomato,
and north of the Police Station on Mesa Street. There is
also on-street parking along most other downtown side
streets. Additional signage to point visitors to these spaces
will be erected as part of these improvements.
ANNUAL FREE DAY
AT THE DUMP
Mesa County Solid Waste Management is offering an
annual Free Day at their facilities again this spring. Please
note the following schedule:
Fruita Transfer Station, 1275 17 ½ Road
Saturday, April 2nd from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Phone 858-1034
Mesa County Landfill, 3071 Hwy. 50
Saturday, April 9th from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Phone 241-6846
The Fruita Transfer Station accepts most residential
waste, including some old appliances (NOT refrigerators/
freezers), furniture, etc. The transfer station cannot accept
construction debris, tires, batteries or other hazardous waste,
but these can be disposed of at the Mesa County Hazardous
Waste Facility at 3071 Highway 50 on Thursdays, Fridays,
and Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. If you have
questions, please call the numbers above.
4

WASTEWATER FACILITY CONSTRUCTION CONTINUES
The new wastewater treatment facility construction
continues. Construction began November 5, 2009, and
was expected to be complete by February 2012. The
present schedule being maintained by the general contractor
indicates that substantial completion will be in late October,
2011; four months ahead of schedule. This means that the
facility will most likely begin operations in September of
this year.
Currently, the project is officially 40% complete, with
approximately 5,300 yards of concrete having been poured
to date. The new facility will have a total of eight structures
at completion.
The new wastewater treatment plant is designed to remove
harmful pollution/nutrients that may have adverse effects
on the Colorado River aquatic life in the future. The
advanced nutrient removal will be mandated by State and
EPA regulations beginning in 2013. After that date, all cities
that discharge into the Colorado River will be required to
meet these new regulations.
SEWER CHARGES
A financial analysis of the new sewer system was
conducted to determine the monthly sewer charge
needed for operation, maintenance and debt service of
the new Wastewater Treatment Plant when it comes on
line in 2012 and to evaluate the billing methodology
for the various classes of customers. A $4.00 per month
rate increase is scheduled to take effect later this year on
October 1, 2011 for residential customers. This will
increase the current charge of $35 to $39 per month. No
rate changes are projected for 2012 at this time.
Sewer charges for non-residential (commercial)
customers will change on October 1, 2011 from a flat
rate formula-based structure to a structure based on
actual water consumption by an individual customer.
Additional information will be mailed to non-residential
(commercial) customers within the next month regarding
the impact this change in billing methodology will have
on their monthly sewer bills.
5

CITY OF FRUITA’S FIRST ANNUAL ELECTRONICS RECYCLING EVENT
Recycle Sony, LG, Zenith, and Gold Star brand names at no cost
The City of Fruita will team up with Waste Management and the Fruita
Monument High School Recycling Club to offer Fruita residents an
opportunity to recycle their electronic devices on April 2, 2011 from
1:00-5:00 p.m. at Fruita City Hall located at 325 E. Aspen, Fruita, CO.
Waste Management will collect several brand name electronics at no cost,
including: Sony, LG, Zenith, and Gold Star. In addition, all cords, cables,
laptops, and cell phones will be collected at no cost. All other electronics
will have a nominal fee. These include:
TVs and Monitors
19” or smaller $12
Larger $15
CPU’s $8
Desktop Printers/ Copiers $5
All other peripherals $3 and under
Residents can feel confident that their electronics will be recycled in an
ethical and environmentally sound manner with Waste Management’s
involvement. Please call 858-3663 if you have any questions.
Presort Std.
US Postage
PAID
Grand Jct., CO
Permit No.34
325 E. Aspen Avenue
Fruita, Colorado 81521
www.fruita.org