At the state and local levels, 2014 has been a year of growth and change.
Through elections, policy debates, community conversations and shifting economic realities, residents and decision-makers, voters, candidates for office and business leaders staked significant effort in addressing significant challenges both in La Plata County and across the state. In some cases, that work led to change; in all, it meant progress. This has been a year of growth.
Perhaps the most vibrant discussion we had locally involved our various opinions about public art in general, and the Arc of History specifically. This controversial conversation drew viewpoints from bona fide art experts and armchair critics alike, each with his or her own interpretation of what type of art is appropriate to symbolize Durango’s identity and welcome visitors to town. In the debate – which occurred largely after the fact and, therefore, beyond the point at which these opinions could have influenced the selection process for the sculpture to adorn the Highway 550/160 interchange – many relevant public issues arose, each of which was relevant to this and most policy issues. Of concern was how public funds should be allocated, whose voices influence public decisions and what those decisions say about our community to its residents and those who come to spend time here as tourists.
Those same factors drew input on issues of greater substance. Accessory dwelling units and vacation rentals spent time in the public spotlight, as Durango City Council contemplated how to incorporate the competing interests surrounding these parallel density issues. Those seeking to put their property to maximum use – either with extra units for long-term rentals or with accommodations for travelers – found themselves at odds with some neighbors uninterested in the increased traffic, population and neighborhood instability such mixed use can draw. It was a lively discussion that involved striking a balance between divergent community values.
In the offing, the city realized it lacked a clearly defined ethics policy – a deficiency that only become apparent when ethics issues arise. It did so in this case when City Councilor Keith Brant, who owns a vacation rental management business that handles properties outside city limits, was nonetheless involved in the vacation rental decision-making. The city set about to draft an ethics policy and revise it based on considered input from residents and experts. The process and the outcome was admirable and stemmed from genuine concern for and commitment to appropriate governance – from the city and its constituents alike.
That same commitment is evident at the state level with the conversation about local and state regulation of gas and oil activities. While the issue is particularly divisive on the Front Range, where increased activity in metro areas is drawing concern from residents and decision-makers, it is fundamentally an issue that affects all Coloradans and striking some reasonable balance between local and statewide regulation is in all communities’ best interest – particularly when the alternative is a constitutionally ensconced set of prescriptions that severely limit anyone’s ability to find workable solutions. To address this, Gov. John Hickenlooper appointed a task force comprising the full gamut of stakeholders with expertise in gas and oil development and regulation. The group’s charge is to craft legislative recommendations to address the challenge of navigating conflicting state and local priorities for how, when and where gas and oil development occurs. La Plata County Commissioner Gwen Lachelt is a co-chairwoman of the group and is working the group through its significant task of finding consensus. The effort itself is impressive and indicative of the processes that yield the best results for Colorado.
Perhaps no better example of this is the Hermosa Creek Watershed Protection Act, enacted on Dec. 19 after six years of active consensus-building, legislative drafting, advocacy and negotiations at the local, state and federal levels. Each channel broadcast the same message: This community – regardless of each individual’s priority and interests – values Hermosa Creek and wants to see it protected. That commitment produced rare federal, bipartisan legislation and embodies this community’s dedication to good policy and even better process. For that, 2014 has been a successful year, indeed.
