August 4, 2026 City Council Meeting

The City of Montrose held a regular City Council meeting on August 4, 2026, which included extensive public commentary and council discussion primarily focused on proposed charter amendments related to the oversight and appointment authority of the police chief and city clerk. The council debated whether to shift hiring and firing authority from the city manager to the city council, with concerns raised about potential politicization, transparency, and accountability. The council also discussed a victim assistance law enforcement grant application for $61,144 to support victim advocate salaries, which was approved. Additionally, the council considered and adopted a resolution assigning approximately $1.5 million in private activity bond allocation to the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority for affordable housing projects. Another significant agenda item was the first reading of an ordinance regulating electric assisted bicycles and vehicles, including speed limits and off-trail riding prohibitions in city parks, aimed at improving public safety. The meeting featured robust public input on these issues, with no votes taken on the charter amendments but motions passed for the grant and bond allocation. The council agreed to provide clear ballot language for the proposed amendments and to continue public engagement on these matters.