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Steve Smith’s Priorities

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Climate Action

Care and Enjoyment of Rivers

Home Ownership and Vibrant Neighborhoods

Diversified Transportation

Parks and Recreation

Reliable Utilities

Waste Reduction, Recycling and Landfill

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Climate Action

Climate change is impacting many aspects of our daily lives. City policies and decisions need to be made with careful attention to reducing further climate damage.

Desired Outcomes

  • Rapidly reduced carbon emissions

  • Protected and restored natural areas

Actions for City Council

  • Consistently implement the city’s newly updated Energy and Climate Action Plan.

  • Maintain rebates for lawn replacement and water-saving upgrades.

  • Continue support for energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements in homes and businesses.

Care and Enjoyment of Rivers

Glenwood Springs is defined by its rivers, creeks and riparian corridors. They provide clean drinking water, scenery, habitat and recreation.

Desired Outcomes

  • Clean rivers and riverside habitat

  • Public pride in healthy rivers

Actions for City Council

  • Implement a new, robust rivers management plan, using public engagement.

  • Fully enforce the existing Hillside Preservation District zoning overlay, with landowner education to ensure compliance and to avoid damage.

  • Showcase riverside trails for recreation and for bicycle and pedestrian commuting.

Home Ownership and Vibrant Neighborhoods

Glenwood Springs needs to increase the amount of housing in the community that people can afford to buy. Home ownership helps young people advance their careers and build thriving families, from a base of security and financial strength.

Desired Outcomes

  • More home ownership, more families building equity

  • Vibrant, cohesive neighborhoods

  • Affordable options for seniors to stay in Glenwood Springs

  • Shorter commutes

  • Development that fits the scale of surrounding neighborhoods

Actions for City Council

  • Support more owner-occupied housing, in existing homes and new construction.

  • Down-payment assistance for first-time home purchases.

  • Seek reform of the state construction defects statute.

  • Designate city-supported housing for local employees.

  • Carefully scrutinize all new development proposals, putting community needs first.

Diversified Transportation

Every weekday, Glenwood Springs is overrun with oppressive commuter traffic, eroding local access, spoiling sense of place and neighborhood beauty, and harming climate. This regional traffic dysfunction must be addressed regionally, and the City of Glenwood Springs must press for action.

Meanwhile, 40% of daily traffic on Grand Avenue is local trips, and 52% of those trips are under three miles in length. These short local trips present a unique opportunity to diversify transportation options and make fewer trips by car.

Voters recently renewed and expanded funding for repair and maintenance of streets and related utilities. This breakthrough will ensure all streets will get the care and improvements needed.

Desired Outcomes

  • Fewer cars on Grand Avenue and on city streets

  • Safer driving conditions

  • Slower speeds for safer, more livable neighborhoods

  • More variety and creativity in transportation options

  • Improved pedestrian and bicycle network

  • Timely snow plowing

Actions for City Council

  • Lead on regional transportation reform, to reduce and guide commuter traffic.

  • Expand and promote options for local trips, with less driving.

  • Improve local transit to appeal to more travelers.

  • Extend transit service to more neighborhoods, particularly southwest Glenwood Springs.

  • Ensure every new transportation project reduces traffic, supports living near work, and protects climate.

  • Transform how we think about parking.

  • Fill the gaps in walking routes to parks and special events.

  • Efficiently allocate street maintenance funds.

Parks and Recreation

A key benefit of living in Glenwood Springs is its abundance of adventure and recreation, both indoors and out.

The city’s parks, trails, and rivers are very popular. Recreational leagues, special events and individual activities put them to good use, with plenty of fun for all.

Recreational facilities at the Community Center have become an outstanding resource for health and play. Exercise classes are packed, courts and rinks in constant demand, and fitness machines always moving.

Desired Outcomes

  • Healthy people

  • Active youth

  • Social connections for neighborhoods

  • Special events that build community

  • Healthy native trees, shrubs and landscaping in parks

Actions for City Council

  • Boost youth recreation programs.

  • Maintain and enhance parks and trails.

  • Promote walking access to parks and events.

  • Support active special events.

  • Expand climate-resilient landscaping.

Reliable Utilities

The reliability of Glenwood Springs utilities is legendary. We often forget these essential services because they work so well.

  • City staff expertly operates a water system that includes raw water collection, water and wastewater treatment plants, water distribution and stormwater management.

  • Glenwood Springs Electric delivers 100% renewable energy, with a robust network of sub-stations, connections, and emergency back-up.

  • The city’s newest utility service is broadband internet access, offered at an affordable price.

With recent voter-approved funding for underground infrastructure maintenance, city staff can complete deep utility repairs and maintenance. Now those tasks can be done in combination with streets work, reducing neighborhood disruptions.

Desired Outcomes

  • Reliable, up-to-date utility services

  • Durable utilities for weather and disaster resilience

Actions for City Council

  • Build 10 megawatts of city-owned solar energy, with battery storage.

  • Efficiently repair, upgrade and maintain all utilities.

  • Educate residents on importance of functional utilities.

  • Support energy efficiency and renewable energy for homes and businesses.

  • Efficiently allocate infrastructure maintenance funds.

Waste Reduction, Recycling and Landfill

Trash hauling, recycling, and resource recovery services have been transformed. Single-hauler residential trash and recycling collection has reduced big-truck traffic on local streets, cutting fuel consumption and related pollution. Household recycling has increased.

Meanwhile, innovations and smart policies at the city’s landfill are diverting more waste into usable products. Initiatives include large-scale composting, sale of soil and fill material, and separation of construction waste.

Benefits include diversion of organic waste, diminished methane generation, reduced overall landfill volume, and groundwater protection.

Desired Outcomes

  • More recycling, less trash

  • Conserved resources

  • Extended landfill life

  • Methane reduction

Actions for City Council

  • Expand single-hauler refuse collection to commercial customers.

  • Increase recycling and large-volume waste diversion.

  • Expand public education on sustainable consumption and disposal habits.

  • Fully implement measures that reduce landfill methane emissions.

  • Reduce waste from city operations and functions held at city facilities.

Steve Smith • Ward 5 candidate, Glenwood Springs City Council

Ballots mailed March 10 • Election Day is April 1

Check your voter registration at GoVoteColorado.gov

Contact Steve Smith at steve@steveforglenwood.org

Paid for by Steve for Glenwood • Kent Wilson, Treasurer

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