Bayfield town trustees started off 2017 by prioritizing a list of projects and goals for the year.
Their top pick was to update the town’s 2005 comprehensive plan and the land use code.
Next was replacement of the two old green bridges on Bayfield Parkway. After a couple years of delays to deal with wetland, endangered species, and federal permit issues. There will be a mandatory pre-bid conference on Jan. 24.
On Tuesday night, Town Manager Chris La May presented a three-page list of priorities and asked trustees to rank them. The list was started in 2011. It includes items that have been completed or are in progress as well as new items.
One that got votes was to investigate making Bayfield a home rule town. “We get all our guidance from the state as a statutory town. Home rule is an opportunity to have more latitude regarding local issues,” La May said. That includes things like land use, design standards, self-collection of sales tax, and personnel management, he said.
Town attorney Jeff Robbins added that home rule “frees you from the authority you are granted by state statute. With home rule, you get that plus all the local areas of concern. I think it’s worth investigating. Many communities that look into it end up doing it.”
Durango is a home rule city.
Mayor Matt Salka said he wants to know the positives and negatives of home rule. “You see small towns our size that are switching to home rule,” he said.
“We don’t see any down-sides, but I’m biased,” La May said.
Town voters would have to grant authority to appoint a commission that would draft a charter within six months, and then voters would have to approve the charter, he said. La May said now is a good time to have the discussion, with the town’s current population, he said.
