The Mayor's Mixtape

The Mayor's Mixtape-Episode 29

• City of Pueblo • Episode 29

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Mayor Graham's Mayor's Mixtape episode 29 covers the visit to Bent County for the work on an IGA with Pueblo Regional Building and the City of Pueblo, a recap of the City Council Work Session on Monday, September 15 and upcoming events in the City of Pueblo.

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Haley Sue Robinson:

Okay, welcome back to the 29th episode of the Mayor's Mixtape. I'm Haley Sue Robinson, Director of Public Affairs for the City of Pueblo.

Heather Graham-Mayor:

I'm Heather Graham City of Pueblo Mayor.

Haley Sue Robinson:

This is Lucy the first dog, she's making herself comfortable.

Heather Graham-Mayor:

Okay, okay okay.

Haley Sue Robinson:

Okay, I'd like to remind you. You can listen on Apple, Spotify, YouT ube, Buzz sprout , wherever you get your podcasts, also on channel 17, and if you have topic suggestions or questions, you can email us at mayor@pueblo. us. Uh, Mayor, last week we had a guest on the podcast. We had Mark Guerrero and talked a little bit about regional building and the city's relationship, and actually yesterday you all went to Bent County and talked to some folks about potentially having an IGA with the city and regional building. Can you tell us a little bit about what that was like?

Heather Graham-Mayor:

Yeah, we went to Bent County with Mark and had a meeting with their commissioners and talked a little bit about what it would be like for our building department to also help them with their permitting process, plan review, et cetera. They're very open to it. It sounds like we're going to be able to at least find one partner. So we have many other communities to go and visit over the next couple of weeks, but they are building a $35 million school in McClave.

Haley Sue Robinson:

oh wow

Heather Graham-Mayor:

And they need a building department to come in and help.

Haley Sue Robinson:

Inspections and reviews

Heather Graham-Mayor:

Inspections and reviews yeah

Haley Sue Robinson:

cool $35 million. That's impressive.

Heather Graham-Mayor:

Yeah, it's pre-K through 12. W e already have an MOU with them, so hopefully we can get them to partner with the City of Pueblo to be our third with IGA.

Haley Sue Robinson:

Okay, wonderful, and I know one thing that has been discussed is that there could potentially be multiple partners, so not just Bent County. Are there other communities that you're looking to speak to?

Heather Graham-Mayor:

Yeah, Cripple Creek, Huerfano County, maybe Boone,

Haley Sue Robinson:

Okay,

Heather Graham-Mayor:

um, there's, there's several,

Haley Sue Robinson:

Sure so you'll be having conversations over the next couple of weeks and then, um, when would this all go into effect?

Heather Graham-Mayor:

January- 1.

Heather Graham-Mayor:

So the um IG with the county ends January 1. So we would start a new IGA with our new partners after that.

Haley Sue Robinson:

Great, and this allows then the city to continue our relationship with regional building. We currently have an IGA with Pueblo County, the city and regional building, but we need to guarantee at least one other partner.

Heather Graham-Mayor:

Right,

Haley Sue Robinson:

Okay,

Heather Graham-Mayor:

Yeah,

Haley Sue Robinson:

Great. And then are there other conversations with these communities of how we can partner outside of regional building, or is that the main focus?

Heather Graham-Mayor:

I would say right now, that's the main, okay, that's the main focus.

Haley Sue Robinson:

Awesome.

Haley Sue Robinson:

Okay, well then we'll look for additional updates as those continue. Last night we had a City Council work session meeting. One thing in particular that was brought forward was a proposal from Councilor Martinez and a presentation with Chief Noeller for a reimbursement program for windows with local businesses up to a thousand dollars. Can we talk a little bit about where this came from or why we would want to move this forward?

Heather Graham-Mayor:

Sure. So over the summer we've heard several business owners come in and talk about the ongoing glass break that they have at their businesses and is there anything that the city can do? So we actually applied for a $50,000 grant to help businesses be able to apply for victim's assistance so that they could get their windows fixed. We weren't successful in the grant and so I think Councilor Martinez took you know the grant application and what we had applied for, and came up with this project of using ARPA interest to pay for the glass instead of the grant dollars that we would have received. So it was the same amount, it was the same criteria that we applied for for the grant.

Heather Graham-Mayor:

So this was a follow-up of an existing project that we had already tried to get.

Haley Sue Robinson:

Okay, um, and can you talk a little bit? When you mentioned ARPA, interest, what, what does that mean?

Heather Graham-Mayor:

Sure. So when the city, the city took in $36 million in ARPA of uh 2022 and beyond Um, and so that money has been allocated to projects all over the city. Some of it is um within our own department for wastewater projects. So, as a city holds on to that money until the money is spent, we generate about $70,000 a month in ARPA interest, depending what the fund balance is, and so we have about $700,000 right now in interest that we've accumulated over the last year and a half.

Haley Sue Robinson:

Okay, so this project you mentioned that the grant we applied for was for 50,000 and um Counselor Martinez's uh proposal is also just to spend the 50,000. Okay, and I know, um, there was also discussion about potentially helping these businesses with insurance claims or ensuring that they go through the process for insurance claims. How exactly would this be facilitated?

Heather Graham-Mayor:

So it's a reimbursable. So one of the examples that they gave last night was Solar Roast. They had their drive-thru window smashed out. It cost the owner $304. So essentially, the owner would pay the bill to have the glass replaced. They would then bring that invoice to the city, probably through my office, as well as what Councilor Martinez has requested.

Heather Graham-Mayor:

We oversee lots of invoices. It's not anything new or weird. Um, and we would then reimburse that amount to that business owner for a glass break. Um, okay, they would have up to a thousand dollar cap. So you know it'd be unfortunate if they used the three hundred dollars, um, and that was their one time. And then you know they had another window break for six hundred dollars and they weren't able to come to the city, sure, and have that reimbursed. So that was something that she talked about, especially business owners who own multiple businesses in the community. It's $1,000 per business that they own that they're eligible to ask for reimbursement for.

Haley Sue Robinson:

Okay. So, like in the example of, say, Solar Roast, we know they own multiple businesses. They have the Main Street location, they have their Northern Avenue location, they also have Nick's Dairy Cream, so all of those businesses would be eligible.

Heather Graham-Mayor:

Yep.

Haley Sue Robinson:

Okay. Okay, you know, and I think there was some hesitation or maybe even some pushback about about what does a thousand dollars do? Yeah, but you gave us an example. So, if that you know, three hundred and four dollars was spent on the drive through window and then let's say that maybe up to two thousand dollars, uh, of damage was done again. It at least alleviates $1,000 worth of damage overall for these businesses.

Heather Graham-Mayor:

Yeah, I think it's a nice gesture to be able to help the community President Aliff talked a lot about. We've heard from a lot of small, small businesses where $1,000 is make or break. $1,000 is your payroll and so you have the choice to fix your window, or the choice to pay your employees and you're probably not going to fix your window.

Heather Graham-Mayor:

Um, at that point and that's when the Chief came in and talked about the broken windows theory- um you know how crime is attractable to broken windows, graffiti yeah, trash um blight, and so I think that this is just a small way that the city can come in and help. I mean, I applaud Councilor Martinez for even bringing an idea forward. We heard a lot of City Council last night say you know what's your solution, and then said no, I don't like this solution, but they also don't have a plan. So I think that this is a great idea. I think that's a great use of ARPA interest and I think it's a great way to help our small businesses

Haley Sue Robinson:

Well, and especially when we have heard so many folks um, in public comment I did, I did think it was um nice to hear maybe the distinction. Uh, like you mentioned, president Aliff said this probably isn't for large businesses, not that large businesses would be excluded, but there are so many small local businesses that have been affected this way and so, if you really think about it, you know $50,000 could go a long way. Sure, it could help multiple businesses, and I think to your point about, or even the Chief's point about, the broken windows theory. If we take the opportunity to clean up the small things, it helps them not all stack up together.

Heather Graham-Mayor:

Right

Heather Graham-Mayor:

Yeah, I'm excited to see, I think, that they have four votes to get this passed, just based off the comments last night, so I think it's a great program to help the small businesses in the community.

Haley Sue Robinson:

So then, as far as next steps, what does this include?

Heather Graham-Mayor:

So it'll be an ordinance. I think it'll be. It's not on first reading for the, so it'll be the first and second meetings, um, in October, and then people will take. We have just a generic application, much like the one we do for the, the gates um, and people will be able to apply to it and bring their invoices and, once their windows have been fixed, and we'll reimburse them.

Haley Sue Robinson:

You know, and, and you mentioned earlier that this isn't like a new concept for the city to reimburse.

Haley Sue Robinson:

I know, uh, formerly, before the city took over the um, the Pueblo Shelter, um, previously we were doing work there and or or there was work being done there and they would bring us their invoice and then we would reimburse. So it would work similarly in that way. Yep, okay, exactly okay, great, so it sounds like it's a pretty equitable process, allows um all small businesses to apply and um yeah.

Heather Graham-Mayor:

You just have to be up to date on your sales tax. You have to have your certificate of good standing from the Secretary of State, which is, you know. That's what you need to apply for a business license and be licensed within the city. So we're just keeping that same standard.

Haley Sue Robinson:

Those are kind of just typical qualifications for working with the city anyway. Yep, okay, great Well, we'll look forward to seeing that come forward in October and hopefully getting some relief for some of our small businesses.

Heather Graham-Mayor:

Yeah it's exciting.

Haley Sue Robinson:

Great, okay, Mayor, we have a lot of exciting upcoming events in the city. This weekend is the Chili and Frijole Festival. I know this is, uh, you know, what a lot of folks in Pueblo would call one of, like, our flagship events. Um, so, right outside, right outside of City Hall, in our windows, we're gonna see streets full of people all weekend. Yeah, um, what's your favorite part of of the Chili and Frijole Festival?

Heather Graham-Mayor:

The smell

Haley Sue Robinson:

me too. Yeah, uh, you know, friday afternoon, when they're, when they're starting to set up, you can already smell the chilies roasting. And I think the other thing that's fun is, even if you're not right downtown, right in the middle of the chili fest, you can still smell it.

Heather Graham-Mayor:

For yeah, like you're driving on the highway and it comes through your air-conditioned vent because it's so strong.

Haley Sue Robinson:

And then you just have to pull over and come visit.

Heather Graham-Mayor:

Get some Pueblo chilies

Haley Sue Robinson:

exactly, yeah exactly

Heather Graham-Mayor:

We're gonna have good weather.

Heather Graham-Mayor:

So last year it was like snowing, sleeting on one of the days.

Haley Sue Robinson:

Yeah, it was kind of weird, yeah I think it's supposed to be um nice all weekend. Maybe chance of rain on on sunday, but, um, hopefully, hopefully it'll be nice weather, yeah, um, and then we also have the uh balloon fest, uh, this weekend. I know that's always really fun to see those launch and um go over the the community, so we're excited to see that again. Um, and then, uh, next weekend we have the uh Pueblo Wings of Pride air show, um, so we're excited about that.

Haley Sue Robinson:

That'll be at the Pueblo Memorial Airport and then, um, you still have two town halls, yeah, one tonight, district three yes and we uh, we did have a location change for the um, for the town hall, so it's at the George L Williams Hall at City Park, and then next week will be your final town hall of September and that's at the Barkman Branch Library. It's been pretty good attendance so far at your town halls,

Heather Graham-Mayor:

Standing room only. Yeah,

Haley Sue Robinson:

Yeah,

Heather Graham-Mayor:

lots of good conversation

Haley Sue Robinson:

Great questions. We've had city counselors who have attended as well and and good feedback from the public. I'm assuming we can expect the same for the two upcoming town halls. Great,

Heather Graham-Mayor:

Looking forward to it, Okay come out and ask your questions.

Haley Sue Robinson:

I know you have district-specific information for each of the districts, a handout that you give everyone? What all do those handouts? i

Heather Graham-Mayor:

So I put the CompStat report in for Part 1, crimes. Okay, that changes every week, sure, so I give an updated version. And then I've been putting in the loitering tickets and the trespassing in the parks, because those have been pretty high talking points when we're out at these meetings. Talk a little bit about the crime, I talk a little bit about public projects and infrastructure that's happening.

Heather Graham-Mayor:

So, whether that's paving or you know, tonight we're going to talk. I don't know if people are aware, but in District 3, on Northern, going to Beulah, you see all that pipe laying on the side of the road and you're like what is that? What's your new wastewater upgrades for Jackson Ranch, maybe Jellystone, any development that's going to be coming in north of that area. So we're going to talk about that. Talk about upcoming events. Um, I have the ballot questions on there, sure, um, tonight I have the at-large candidates on there. And district three um, so people will know that this will be what's on their ballot come November, um, I think. And oh, and cleanup efforts, sure, um, that we have within your area.

Haley Sue Robinson:

Okay, that's great.

Haley Sue Robinson:

And then you give folks the opportunity to ask questions or even give input for ideas.

Heather Graham-Mayor:

Yeah, we spend the majority of the time taking input or questions, so my part's quick 10 minutes.

Haley Sue Robinson:

Okay, and then answering all the questions from the folks. Great Well, it's also live streamed, so if folks can't attend in person, they can watch on your Facebook page at Mayor Heather Graham, and if they're unable to watch live, they can always go back and watch those videos as well if they have questions.

Heather Graham-Mayor:

Yes.

Haley Sue Robinson:

Perfect. Anything else we need to know about upcoming events in the City of Pueblo Mayor?

Heather Graham-Mayor:

I think you covered it.

Haley Sue Robinson:

Okay, that sounds great.

Haley Sue Robinson:

Okay, uh, well, I think that's a. It's a quick episode, it's a short one for us this week, but, um, we'll be back next week with our 30th episode of the Mayor's Mixtape. Don't forget you can find us on Apple, Spotify, Buzzsprout, YouTube. Wherever you get your podcasts, make sure you like, subscribe and share, and if you have questions or topic suggestions, you can email us at mayor@pueblo. us. We'll see you next week.