The Steamboat Pilot & Today: Chat with Susan Dellinger

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Chat with City Council President Susan Dellinger

January 12, 2007

Susan Dellinger, who replaced Ken Brenner Tuesday as president of the Steamboat Springs City Council, will be available for a chat at 2 p.m. Friday.

Moderator: Welcome everyone. I'm Scott Stanford and I will be moderating today's chat with Susan Dellinger, who was appointed president of the Steamboat Springs City Council earlier this week after Ken Brenner announced he was stepping down. Susan, thanks for joining us. Are you ready to go?

Susan Dellinger: I am. Thanks for having me.

sstanford: How does becoming City Council president change things for you?

Susan Dellinger: It gives me an opportunity to work more closely with my fellow council members and to develop a dynamic working relationship with each of them.

sstanford: How will the council be different with you as president instead of Ken?

Susan Dellinger: My goal is to improve our decision making process. We have an intelligent community, a council that well represents our community's diversity and an outstanding staff. I would like to see us develop a better process of defining our needs, engaging our community and ourselves more effectively, discussing our topics more thoroughly and coming to a clear decision at the end.

sstanford: Did Ken Brenner's resignation come as a surprise to you? Did he talk about it with you or other council members prior to Tuesday's meeting?

Susan Dellinger: Ken and I spoke with each other frequently prior to his announcement. He has spent an immense amount of time on his presidency and is extremely dedicated to our community. Ken is a passionate leader who was frustrated with that limitation so, his move back on to the council body will allow him the freedom he needed to immerse himself in various topics we are tackling.

sstanford: Last year, the developers of Riverwalk gave the city more than $1 million for affordable housing as part of an easement agreement. The city still has about $950,000 of that money in the general fund. Meanwhile, the Yampa Valley Housing Authority is about to go broke and is looking for a tax. Shouldn't the council give that money to the housing authority?

Susan Dellinger: The money associated with the Riverwalk development is designated for land purchase. Council is currently working on a strategic affordable housing plan and is scheduled to meet with the housing authority to discuss their and our roles in the development of this plan. Neither the council nor the housing authority wish to spend any money without a solid direction, acheiveable goals and clear outcome. I believe the answer to our affordable housing need lies with this plan and a sustainable funding source for housing not piecemeal funds and solutions.

sstanford: You are perceived as a critic of the Steamboat Springs Airport. Is that a fair perception? If not, what is your stance regarding the local, general aviation airport?

Susan Dellinger: General aviation is an absolute must for our community and we need to be supporting it to the best of our ability. The question of the economic impact our STOLPort has on our overall economy has been a point of contention for years and my goal is to bring this discussion to an end by developing an answer to the perceptions surrounding the airport. Until the answers and direction are clear, we will continue supporting general aviation minimally rather than effectively.

Moderator: Susan, that concludes our chat. Thanks for joining us.