Steamboat Springs and Routt County officials convened on Thursday for a State of the City/County event to discuss pressing challenges and initiatives shaping the region’s future.

The event highlighted collaborative efforts between the city and county, touching on topics ranging from energy redevelopment to transportation infrastructure and housing.

Assistant County Manager Melina Bricker unveiled an exciting development in mental health services: the implementation of a co-responder program, which she referred to as a “huge community need.”

“The purpose of a co-responder program is to divert individuals from levels of care that may not be appropriate or helpful to them,” said Bricker. “This reduces the number of people who are inappropriately inserted into the criminal justice system for behavioral health needs. It also helps support a continuity of care for individuals that tend to be higher utilizers of our local resources.”

Bricker then discussed a joint project with the city aimed at tackling the childcare and worker housing crisis.

“We do reside in a child care desert,” she noted, emphasizing affordability challenges and low wages for child care workers. The county has committed $1 million toward the project.

“In order to address this cyclical issue of no child care because there’s no workers, and no workers because there’s no child care, this project is trying to hit both of those really critical elements of providing housing specifically for childcare workers that reside in the county,” Bricker said.

Transportation was another focal point of the event. Bricker outlined progress on two segments of the Mountain Rail project: a commuter rail connecting Oak Creek, Steamboat Springs, Hayden and Craig, and a ski train connecting Denver to Routt County. While grant applications are pending due to technical issues with submission portals, Bricker maintained that planning efforts are underway. 

Additionally, creating a safe pedestrian crossway on U.S. Highway 40 remains a priority. 

“Anyone who lives or drives through Steamboat II, I’m sure it’s not a mystery to you why families could be concerned about their kids trying to dash across U.S. 40 where there’s no safe crossing, particularly as there are two schools on either side of the highway,” Bricker said. 

The county’s application to the Safe Routes to School program for funding the crossing, she said, was denied. According to data from family surveys, however, over 80% of people impacted in the area demonstrate strong support for sidewalks and pathways near schools. 

Updates on Yampa Valley Regional Airport included increased winter travel demand and a new nonstop flight to LAX with United Airlines this summer, as well as sustainability efforts, including installing level-two electric vehicle chargers and exploring bird deterrent drones. Expansion projects are also in progress, including an eight-hangar construction phase and a “rehab” of taxiway A.

Routt County Commissioner Angelica Salinas addressed the economic implications of Xcel Energy’s retirement of the Hayden Station coal units. 

“We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to shape what comes next — not just for energy but for our economy and workforce,” Salinas said. The transition will impact approximately 200 local jobs tied to coal operations, amounting to over $174 million in gross annual wages, with ripple effects on schools and public safety services dependent on coal-related tax revenue. 

Salinas urged public engagement in negotiations with Xcel Energy through upcoming hearings hosted by the Public Utilities Commission, the soonest of which takes place May 1. “We are really pushing for clean energy redevelopment that reflects our community values,” she said.

At the State of the City presentation, City Manager Tom Leeson emphasized the importance of organizational clarity and efficiency within city operations, especially given inflationary pressures and increased service demands across city departments. 

“We are seeing an increase in building permits and development applications. We are seeing an increase in code enforcement…we are seeing an increase in stress on our parks and open space,” said Leeson, who noted the difference between rising costs and flattening sales tax revenue.  “This is why City Council continues to talk about the need for looking for additional revenues.”

Council President Gail Garey discussed housing as a top priority for council members. Efforts include contracting with Community Builders to reassess community support for a Brown Ranch annexation while pursuing shorter-term solutions like inclusionary zoning and linkage fees. She mentioned ongoing projects such as dormitory-style seasonal employee housing near the transit center and Riverside’s deed-restricted units funded through a city loan from short-term rental funds. 

The city is working collaboratively with neighboring communities to establish a Regional Transportation Authority, which will oversee multimodal transit systems subject to voter approval. Plans also include extending the Core Trail westward in three phases starting this fall. 

Garey outlined proposals aimed at diversifying revenue streams amid slowing sales tax growth. A vacancy tax targeting unoccupied homes could help fill funding gaps while ensuring equitable contributions from property owners benefiting from city services. Council is also exploring a lift tax tied to ski operations as another potential funding source.

“Staff is creating internal policies that enable the city to operationalize the Climate Action Plan. This includes adopting city electric vehicle policy as well as integrating EVs into the city’s fleet,” said Garey. “The city is also conducting a Facilities Master Plan and a Decarbonization Plan, which includes a facilities conditions assessment, as well as an energy and water audit of the city buildings.”

Water conservation remains central to sustainability efforts, with goals set to reduce treated water demand by 10% by 2027, Garey added. Smart irrigation systems are being deployed across city parks to optimize water usage based on soil conditions–a step toward protecting the Yampa River’s health.

Throughout the event, leaders stressed the importance of public participation in shaping policies and solutions.