City adopts some things new, keeps some things old

by Bill Knowles
TRINIDAD — With a 6-0 vote the Trinidad City Council created a unique type of permit allowing for wine tasting in the city.  “This is in essence a manufacturers’ wine tasting license,” said City Attorney Les Downs. 
The permit was filed by Craig Stevens and his wife Della, owners of the Tees Me, Treat Me shop at 105 W. Main, even though the name on the license is the Mountain View Winery from Olathe, Colo., a small town on Highway U.S. 50 near Delta, Colo.  Under the permit, the Stevens’ will be authorized as a seller for the manufacturer to sell Mountain View Wine from their shop in Trinidad.  “This is not a big operation.  We will be tasting the wine 12 pm to 5 pm during the week,” said  Stevens. 
The city added to the Trinidad Industrial Park by annexing land under a petition filed by Trinidad Las Animas County Economic Development.  Parcel D, is about 18 acres and already adjoined to the industrial park.  The council, on a 6-0 vote, approved the first reading.  The second reading of the ordinance to annex the parcel is set for Aug. 18.
The property will be zoned community commercial for future development.  The city approved, with a 6-0 vote, the first reading of an ordinance amending the zone map to establish the zone classification of Parcel D. 
During public comment time Steve Bolton addressed the city council concerning a special meeting held by the council on July 28, for the purpose of addressing mayoral behavior in relation to the code of conduct during meetings.  He thanked several council members… “for relaying the message about the damage Mayor Reorda was causing the community and letting him know that there would be written and formal action to deter his future exploits.”  
“In closing I would like say, that the fact that the council brought to bear chastising one of its own in public is historic monumental progress, progress I hope we never have to endure again.” 
Shawn Sheridan, a real estate developer with business interests in over a half dozen historically significant buildings downtown, also addressed council members requesting the council prepare an ordinance putting a one year moratorium on consideration of any new conditional use permit applications (CUP).  According to Sheridan, this would ease the load on city planners as well as other city staff members.
“I’m asking for a one year moratorium on the consideration of any new conditional use permit applications for new marijuana establishments. I am not requesting a moratorium on the issuance of new licenses, as I have no reason to believe the local licensing authority has no back log,” said Sheridan.      
In unfinished business, the council passed with a 6-0 vote the second reading of  an ordinance adopting the existing marijuana map as it is currently constituted in order to preserve and protect the Historic Downtown District.
Passed also was the second reading of an ordinance to maintain the existing marijuana map and to prevent any marijuana licensing for the Cougar Canyon Development site.
After a secret ballot vote the city council appointed Carlene Tortorice as a member of the Trinidad Housing Authority.
The city council went into executive session around nine pm.