The Salida City Council voted unamiously to send the issue of the Sackett Street property transfer before the voters this November.
At their February 19 meeting, the commissioners voted 4-0, with Jim McCormick and Steven Stewart absent, to have the citizens decide the issue, which involves trading the land at 307 W. Sackett Ave to Colorado Parks and Wildlife. The Council stated that it was the citizens outspoken desire for a vote on the matter that swayed them. Councilman Keith Baker stated "I'm hearing out there that nearly 100 percent want to see the project move forward, their only concern is the procedure." Many citizens, including councilman Mike Bowers, were concerned that trading the land by ordinance only would not hold up legally, as there was some question about the interpretation of how the land is being used. Land used for governmental purposes cannot be transferred without a vote of the people.
When council announced its intention to proceed with a vote, several citizens, many of them vocal throughout the entire procedure, stood and thanked the council for its decision. City staff will now begin the lenghty process of rewriting the ordinance into a ballot measure for the November election.
