Phil Castle, The Business Times

Eight candidates running for Grand Junction City Council voiced support at a virtual forum for more pandemic relief for businesses and additional infrastructure to accommodate growth, but less regulation.

The candidates differed, though, on some of the details as well as continued city funding for Colorado Mesa University.

The Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce hosted the Zoom forum, which featured all eight candidates vying for four seats in the April 6 municipal election: Mark McCallister and Rick Taggart in District A, Greg Haitz and Dennis Simpson in District B, Jody Green and Abe Herman in District E and Kraig Andrews and Randall Reitz for an at-large seat. City voters may vote for all the races.

Asked how they’d allocate pandemic relief funding if additional money were to come from the federal government, most candidates said support should go to small businesses.

Haitz and Herman said small businesses and employees in the service sector have been hit hardest by the pandemic. Haitz said he’s talked to restaurateurs who aren’t sure their operations will remain open through the winter. Reitz said businesses heed help to keep people employed.

Andrews said the city should pass through additional funding to provide assistance for housing, food and other needs. “We need to get it into the community where it will do the most good.”

Taggart said additional funding would built on efforts already put into place to help businesses and nonprofits. Simpson said he’d consider options to get “the best bang for the buck.”

Asked about their views on the role of city government in real estate development, most candidates said that role should focus on providing roads and other infrastructure to accommodate growth. McAllister called infrastructure the only role.

Green said public safety also plays a role in supporting growth.

Simpson said city and county planning is needed to allow for growth without urban sprawl.

Randall said Grand Junction is on the cusp of becoming “the next great Colorado city,” but a thoughtful approach is needed to maintain quality of life.

Herman said he concerned there’s a “climate of uncertainty” in land use and zoning decisions. The city also could play a role in ensuring there’s adequate supplies to bring curb rising housing costs, he said.

Asked about their views on reducing regulations, most candidates said they favored fewer regulations.

“It’s all about eliminating roadblocks,” Herman said.

Haitz said government processes should be streamlined where possible, and he’d also consider a moratorium on some fees.

McCallister said some fees should be reduced or eliminated.

Taggart said the city doesn’t require business licenses, but permitting can be a difficult and complicated process. “We need to let entrepreneurs build the businesses and stay out of the way.”

Dennis said regulations with no purposes should be eliminated, but some regulations are needed. “It’s not a simplistic problem.”

The candidates differed on whether or not the city should continue to provide funding for Colorado Mesa University and other organizations.

McCallister said funding should be allocated elsewhere. “CMU is doing fine on its own.”

Green also said funding could be used elsewhere — to help small businesses, for example.

Simpson said the city shouldn’t commit to funding over a multi-year period without a vote. While contributions to CMU could continue, he said there are also other needs.

Haitz said he’d consider revisiting the relationship.

Other candidates disagreed.

Taggart called the partnership between the city and CMU “critical.”

The city contributes $500,000 for scholarships for Mesa County School District 51 students to pursue additional education after high school. Funding also supports CMU programs that in turn support work force development, he said.

By one estimate, CMU contributes nearly $539 million a year to the economy of a 14-county region of Western Colorado that includes Grand Junction. 

“That’s a pretty good return on investment,” Taggart said.

Herman and Andrews said they supported the partnership with CMU and what they said was an investment in work force development and keeping more young people in the community.

Reitz said CMU offers a shared benefit that requires a shared burden.