Chapter 39.32
PUBLIC SERVICES

Sections:

39.32.010    Public utilities and infrastructure – Background.

39.32.020    Public utilities and infrastructure – 2010 Comprehensive Plan goals and policies.

39.32.030    Public utilities and infrastructure – Orchard Mesa public services.

39.32.040    Community and public facilities – Background.

39.32.050    Community and public facilities – 2010 Comprehensive Plan goals and policies.

39.32.060    Public safety – Background.

39.32.070    Public safety – 2010 Comprehensive Plan goals and policies.

39.32.010 Public utilities and infrastructure – Background.

(a)    Sanitation and Sewer. Properties within the City of Grand Junction are served by the Persigo Wastewater Treatment Plant. The Orchard Mesa Sanitation District (OMSD) serves urban development between the City limits and 30 Road, but all sewage is treated at the Persigo Plant. Most of the development in the OMSD is infill. In accordance with the Persigo Agreement, the OMSD will dissolve in 2015 and the City of Grand Junction will serve the area.

Rural properties outside the Persigo Sewer District (201) boundaries are generally served by Individual Sewage Disposal Systems (ISDS). There are some individual properties within the Persigo boundaries that are served by ISDS; they would be served by public sewer if developed. A sewer main from the Clifton Sanitation District that serves Whitewater passes through the rural portion of the plan area in the vicinity of 32 Road/Highway 141. This line can also serve urban development that is outside the Persigo District boundary, such as Springfield Estates. Rural development would only be permitted to connect to sewer service if located within 400 feet of the line, and if Clifton Sanitation District indicated a willingness to serve the property, consistent with the Mesa County Land Development Code Section 7.10.2. Development, uses and density must still conform to the adopted Future Land Use map. The location and design of the Clifton line limits the ability to serve most development west of 32 Road. Sewer service areas are shown in Appendix Map 16.

(b)    Domestic Water. The majority of the Orchard Mesa Plan area is served by Ute Water Conservancy District. Although nearly the entire planning area is within Ute’s district boundaries, some areas are served by either the City of Grand Junction or Clifton Water District (Appendix Map 17). Clifton Water has a large water tank on Whitewater Hill to service the Whitewater community.

There are several properties along the south edge of the plan area, around Old Whitewater Road and near the junction of Highways 50 and 141, that are not in a water service district’s boundary. Future development of these properties would be dependent on inclusion in a water district and extension of service. One such area is Springfield Estates, off Highway 141; it is served by Ute Water. The County’s Whitewater Hill property (drag strip, trap club, modeleers club and Colorado Law Enforcement Training Center) is not in a water district but is served by Clifton Water. The existing two-inch line is about 2.25 miles long; water pressure issues limit development. A six-inch line would be needed to fully develop a firefighter training facility. Because of the elevation of the site, pumping is necessary. Clifton Water District has shown interest in developing the line, dependent on inclusion in their capital improvement plan. Grand Junction’s Kannah Creek raw water line is a potential source of nonpotable water.

(c)    Solid Waste. The City of Grand Junction provides residential waste collection within the City limits. Large multifamily complexes (over eight units) contract with private waste companies. Commercial properties within the City limits may have City trash service or may contract with a private hauler. Curbside Recycling Indefinitely, Inc. conducts curbside recycling collection within the City’s trash service area. It also maintains a drop-off site at the City shop property at 333 West Avenue. Commercial recycling collection may be available. Properties outside the City limits generally contract with private companies, although some individuals may choose to haul their own waste to the landfill. The Mesa County Landfill is located to the south of the plan area. It provides a wide range of waste handling services, including the landfill, hazardous waste disposal, electronics recycling, recycling and composting.

(d)    Irrigation and Drainage. The Orchard Mesa Irrigation District (OMID) was organized in 1904 and became part of the Federal Grand Valley Project in 1922. Approximately 9,800 landowners and 4,300 acres are served by the district (Appendix Map 18). OMID’s water is diverted from the Colorado River at the Cameo Diversion Dam in DeBeque Canyon. Water rights within the district are allocated to the land and cannot be sold separately.

The OMID is undertaking system improvements that will provide a more reliable water supply and will result in significant water savings. The most notable improvement will be a regulating reservoir, holding 80 to 100 acre-feet of water on a 15-acre site located north of A 1/2 Road and 29 3/4 Road and south of Mesa View Elementary School. The reservoir will improve the ability of OMID to deliver water at peak times. Check structures will be installed and improved, pump capacity will be increased, interties between canals will be constructed, and canal and lateral seepage will be reduced through lining and piping, further improving system efficiency.

(e)    Electrical and Gas Utilities. Xcel Energy provides electricity to the northwest portion of the plan area. This includes the most-developed areas west of 27 1/4 Road and generally north of B 1/4 Road, east across 30 Road. Xcel’s service area also includes the rural northeastern area, approximately along the C and C 1/2 Road corridors east of 32 Road. Grand Valley Power serves the remainder of the plan area. Service areas are shown in Appendix Map 19. Natural gas service is provided by Xcel Energy to most of the plan area. Infrastructure upgrades for both providers are driven by growth and development.

(Ord. 4629, 5-7-14)

39.32.020 Public utilities and infrastructure – 2010 Comprehensive Plan goals and policies.

(a)    Goal 11. Public facilities and services for our citizens will be a priority in planning for growth.

(b)    Policies.

(1)    The City and County will plan for the locations and construct new public facilities to serve the public health, safety, and welfare, and to meet the needs of existing and future growth.

(Ord. 4629, 5-7-14)

39.32.030 Public utilities and infrastructure – Orchard Mesa public services.

(a)    Goal 1. Services and infrastructure are cost-effective and meet the needs of residents and businesses in the Orchard Mesa Plan area.

(b)    Actions.

(1)    Future development levels shall be consistent with the adopted Future Land Use Map and all requirements for infrastructure service connections. Sewer service shall not be extended to rural areas, except as permitted by the Mesa County Land Development Code.

(2)    Continue to submit development proposals to service providers for their review and comment.

(3)    Coordinate with water and sanitation providers to help ensure that water and sewer systems are designed and constructed with adequate capacity to serve existing and proposed development, and that their capital improvement plans are coordinated with implementation of this plan.

(4)    Explore the creation of various types of improvement districts (local improvement districts, public improvement districts) for areas within the urban development boundary where public infrastructure is needed and in areas that are already developed, for the purpose of providing sidewalks, street lighting, and stormwater management or other urban services.

(Ord. 4629, 5-7-14)

39.32.040 Community and public facilities – Background.

(a)    Public Facilities and Services. Public facilities on Orchard Mesa are limited. The Mesa County Library operates a branch at 230 East Lynwood Street. CSU Tri-River Extension offices are located at the Mesa County Fairgrounds. They provide information on agriculture and natural resources, consumer and family education and 4-H youth development. There are no other City or County administrative services or facilities located on Orchard Mesa.

Orchard Mesa does not have a post office. Depending on where one resides, the closest post office may be the main Grand Junction facility at 4th Street and White Avenue, Fruitvale, Clifton, or Whitewater. There are no commercial mail or shipping businesses in the area. Residents have noted that the lack of any facility with mail services is a significant issue.

Medical and behavioral health facilities are also limited on Orchard Mesa. There are some service providers such as a dentist, but no physicians’ offices, therapists’ offices or clinics. Residents requiring medical care must go to providers north of the river. This results in some hardships for low-income residents and those with limited mobility. It may also contribute to the number of calls for emergency medical services.

(b)    Schools. Mesa County Valley School District No. 51 has four elementary schools and one middle school in the plan area (Appendix Map 20). High school students from Orchard Mesa attend Central High School, Grand Junction High School or Palisade High School, depending on where they reside. A significant issue for the schools is the difficulty crossing Highway 50. Because of the lack of safe pedestrian crossings, students who live on the other side of the highway from their respective schools are bused, even when they reside within the district’s designated walking area. As shown in Table 8, enrollment in the Orchard Mesa schools has declined slightly in the past five years (about 2.8 percent). The largest decline has been at Lincoln Orchard Mesa Elementary, while enrollment at Mesa View Elementary has increased slightly.

The John McConnell Math and Science Center is located at New Emerson Elementary, a magnet school. A nonprofit organization, it is dedicated to providing hands-on science education. It is open to the general public as well as to students.

The district owns approximately 34 acres at the northwest corner of B Road and 30 1/2 Road. The site is for a potential future high school, and could also include a regional sports complex. Construction of a high school at this site will not occur until there is a need; District 51’s long-range plan recommends a new high school in the Appleton area prior to building a school on Orchard Mesa. Therefore, development of the site is to be expected over the very long term. Additional sites for elementary and middle schools have not been identified.

Table 8: School Enrollment

School

Enrollment

 

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

Dos Rios Elementary

439

430

374

382

404

Lincoln Orchard Mesa Elementary

410

412

363

382

372

Mesa View Elementary

421

441

454

448

434

New Emerson Elementary

129

133

150

150

143

Orchard Mesa Middle School

510

538

532

530

503

Totals

1,909

1,954

1,873

1,892

1,856

Source: Mesa County Valley School District No. 51

(c)    CSU Western Colorado Research Center. Colorado State University’s Orchard Mesa research center is located at 3168 B 1/2 Road on 77 acres. The research center also includes a Fruita site. Research conducted at the Orchard Mesa site includes tree fruits, wine grape production, dry bean variety increases, and ornamental horticulture. The site includes Ram’s Point Winery, which trains students in winemaking and winery business practices.

(d)    Orchard Mesa Cemeteries. The Orchard Mesa Municipal Cemetery is located along 26 1/4 Road, and is maintained by the City of Grand Junction. There are several sections, including the Orchard Mesa, Masonic, Municipal, Odd Fellows (I.O.O.F.), and Veterans Cemeteries on the west and Calvary and St. Anthony’s Cemeteries on the east.

(Ord. 4629, 5-7-14)

39.32.050 Community and public facilities – 2010 Comprehensive Plan goals and policies.

(a)    Goal 1. Community and public facilities meet the needs of area residents.

(b)    Actions.

(1)    Encourage the U.S. Postal Service to provide a branch post office on Orchard Mesa.

(2)    Continue to maintain community facilities and services such as the Mesa County Library Branch.

(3)    Support the CSU Research Center and protect the surrounding area from urbanization.

(4)    Support assessment of health needs and encourage the location of medical offices and facilities within Orchard Mesa’s neighborhood centers.

(5)    Encourage and expand the Safe Routes to Schools program in Orchard Mesa neighborhoods.

(Ord. 4629, 5-7-14)

39.32.060 Public safety – Background.

(a)    Law Enforcement. Law enforcement within the City limits is provided by the Grand Junction Police Department (GJPD), while the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) covers the unincorporated areas. The patchwork of incorporated and unincorporated areas results in some uncertainty regarding jurisdictional responsibility; one side of the street or even individual parcels may be in the City, while the other side or immediately adjacent property is in the County. This results in inefficient and overlapping responses.

There are no police or sheriff substations on Orchard Mesa, and neither agency has patrol districts assigned exclusively to Orchard Mesa. The MCSO has one officer assigned to patrol the Old Spanish Trail/Gunnison River Bluffs Trail. The 911 call volume for Orchard Mesa tends to be low relative to its size, with the majority of the calls in the more dense western area. The 29 Road bridge has improved response times, allowing personnel to reach the area sooner.

Colorado State Patrol (CSP) is responsible for traffic patrol on the highways and investigates traffic accidents in unincorporated areas. All CSP offices have been consolidated at the Fruita Service Center.

(b)    Fire. The Orchard Mesa Plan area is served by the City of Grand Junction Fire Department (GJFD), the Grand Junction Rural Fire District, Central Orchard Mesa Fire District, and Land’s End Fire District (Appendix Map 21). A small area to the southeast of 31 Road and A 1/8 Road is not included in any fire district. Also, several properties in the southeast portion of the plan area located south of Orchard Mesa Canal No. 2 are not within a fire district. Most of these properties are undeveloped, although a few have structures. Fire protection in areas outside fire district boundaries is the responsibility of the MCSO. Fire protection on Bureau of Land Management property is the responsibility of the BLM.

GJFD Station 4 is located at 251 27 Road. Based on the City of Grand Junction Fire Facilities Plan 2013, there has been some discussion regarding moving the station east to the Unaweep Avenue and Alta Vista area. The plan identifies all areas within four minutes estimated travel time from a station. The current location overlaps with the coverage area of the main station at 6th Street and Pitkin Avenue. Moving the station to the east would expand the area within the four-minute response time, both on Orchard Mesa and in Pear Park. Data indicates a 17 percent increase in call volume from 2011 to 2012. However, the number of emergency medical service (EMS) calls decreased from about 80 percent of total calls in 2011 to about 75 percent in 2012. (Table 9)

Table 9: Fire Station No. 4 Call Volume

Station 4

2011

2012

Total Responses

2625

3083

4 Minute Service Area

 

 

Total Incidents

540

664

Total EMS

431

496

Total Fire

98

116

Population

8894

8894

Population over 65

738

738

Source: City of Grand Junction Fire Facilities Plan 2013

Grand Junction Rural Fire District services are provided by the Grand Junction Fire Department through a contract with the City of Grand Junction. Grand Junction Rural Fire District revenues are primarily derived from property taxes. The GJFD is operated as a general fund department of the City.

Central Orchard Mesa Fire Department is a separate fire district. It is a volunteer department managed by a five-member board. The station is at 3253 B 1/2 Road. As of 2013, there were 13 volunteers. Most of the volunteers are certified as emergency medical technicians (EMTs). In 2012, the district had 108 calls, a decrease from prior years, with about 70 percent of the calls for EMS and 30 percent for fire. The majority of the fire calls are associated with field burning. The district’s service area covers about 8.1 square miles and includes approximately 800 households with an estimated 2,700 residents. The service area extends from approximately 30 1/4 Road and A 1/2 Road eastward to 35 Road and D 1/4 Road, between Orchard Mesa Canal No. 2 and the Colorado River. Through the Mesa County EMS Resolution, the district covers an additional 17.9 square miles as a Rural Ambulance Service Area; that area extends east to the National Forest. The district is funded by taxes, grants and donations. Equipment includes three engines, a water tender, two brush trucks and two ambulances.

Ongoing issues for the Central Orchard Mesa Fire District include maintaining an adequate number of trained volunteers and water infrastructure issues, including lack of water pressure, no water lines or no hydrants. As a result, a water tender must be dispatched to all fire calls, requiring more department resources. Also, Central Orchard Mesa’s public protection classification (ISO rating) results in higher insurance costs for residents.

Land’s End Fire District is a volunteer department, with a station off Siminoe Road, south of Whitewater. The Colorado Law Enforcement Training Center, drag strip, trap club and model airplane club are within the Land’s End Fire District. However, Grand Junction Rural Fire District may be more suited to respond to incidents, based on location, staffing and equipment. All areas of Orchard Mesa are covered by the County-wide mutual aid agreement for fire, EMS, and other emergency services provided by fire departments in the County.

The County continues to encourage fire-wise site design and construction in wildland-urban interface areas to keep homes safer from wildfires by providing informational materials to property owners and developers and through development review. The Mesa County Wildfire Protection Plan provides recommendations to abate catastrophic wildfire and minimize its impacts to communities. It includes a risk assessment of numerous areas, including Orchard Mesa, along with recommendations for fuel reduction and treatments, public education and actions for homeowners.

(c)    Emergency Management. The Mesa County Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) is an all-disciplines, all-hazards plan that establishes a single, comprehensive framework for incident management where resources from many agencies are involved. It provides the structure and mechanisms for coordination of local, State and federal agencies. The EOP is reviewed and updated every two years. Key components of the EOP are:

(1)    Systematic and coordinated incident management;

(2)    Organizing interagency efforts;

(3)    Facilitating delivery of critical resources, assets and assistance; and

(4)    Providing mechanisms for coordination, communication and information sharing in response to threats or incidents.

(d)    Regional Public Safety Facility. The Colorado Law Enforcement Training Center at Whitewater Hill is the result of a partnership between Mesa County, the City of Grand Junction and Colorado Mesa University. Located on 78 acres, it is adjacent to the drag strip, trap club and model airplane club (Appendix Map 10). The largest training facility of its kind between Denver and Salt Lake City, it opened in 2013 with a pursuit driving track. It is expected to attract public safety personnel from throughout the region in addition to providing a venue to train local responders. Future plans for the site include an outdoor firing range, classrooms, fire training structures, and a simulated city block. One of the key challenges for development of the site is water. The water service will need to be improved to meet the fire code requirements for the planned classroom building and fire training needs.

(Ord. 4629, 5-7-14)

39.32.070 Public safety – 2010 Comprehensive Plan goals and policies.

(a)    Goal 1. Adequate public safety services are available to all residents.

(1)    Actions.

(i)    Work with all fire districts to determine the need for and location of stations on Orchard Mesa.

(ii)    Work with the fire districts to determine how to provide appropriate services throughout Orchard Mesa.

(iii)    The City and County shall encourage water providers, in coordination with the appropriate fire district, to provide adequate fire flow for development planned or anticipated in all areas within their service area.

(iv)    Provide outreach through the Sheriff’s Office, Grand Junction Police Department and Mesa County Health Department to area residents. Assist in the establishment of a Neighborhood Watch program. Work to address community concerns and health and safety issues, support consistent law enforcement presence and services, and address public safety on streets and roads.

(b)    Goal 2. The Colorado Law Enforcement Training Center serves as a regional training facility for law enforcement and emergency responders.

(1)    Actions.

(i)    Plan capital improvements that will enhance development and use of the training facility.

(ii)    Encourage economic development efforts that will support and enhance usage of the training facility.

(Ord. 4629, 5-7-14)