The Craig City Council heard updates on youth prevention efforts, city infrastructure projects and concerns regarding electric bicycles and scooter use within city limits during its Sept. 8 meeting.

Sara Hayes, community mobilizer for Northwest Colorado Health’s Communities That Care program, provided the council with an overview of the coalition’s accomplishments during the past five years and outlined its transition into a new state grant program.

Hayes said Communities That Care recently completed work under its previous Communities Organizing for Prevention grant and began operating under the Elevating Prevention in Colorado grant July 1.

“CTC taught us how to work together, but EPIC expands what we can do together,” Hayes said. “We’re not losing who we are. We are building on a foundation that took years to create.”

Hayes highlighted several efforts involving young people across Moffat County including growth of the Youth Action Council, school-based mentoring, youth events and the Safe Spaces initiative.

She said the coalition’s fifth-quarter events following school activities have grown significantly, with one event drawing more than 200 young people. Hayes said the events are designed to give youth safe places to socialize while providing opportunities for them to share what they want and need from the community.

The coalition also collected feedback from more than 200 youth as part of its Safe Spaces initiative. The survey identified the ice rink and movie theater as locations where young people felt particularly comfortable.

However, the survey also identified concerns surrounding Sherwood Park and City Park.

Hayes said youth identified Sherwood Park as a place where its secluded nature, lack of lighting and limited trash facilities contributed to concerns involving fights, drinking, needles, drugs and vaping.

The coalition later worked with the city to organize a cleanup at Sherwood Park and City Park.

“I’d feel better going to Sherwood if there just wasn’t so much trash laying around,” Hayes recalled one youth saying before the cleanup. 

Hayes also said the coalition is nearing completion of a countywide resource guide that had stalled for several years. Approximately 1,500 copies are expected to be printed and distributed throughout Moffat County.

Later in the meeting, council members raised concerns about the growing use of electric bicycles and scooters on Craig streets.

Councilmember Joe Herod said he has noticed younger riders traveling on streets, weaving through traffic and operating electric bikes at relatively high speeds. He asked whether existing laws regulate the age of riders or speeds for the vehicles.

“I had a couple of kids run out in front of me, flip me off, and I was like, what the heck,” Herod said. 

Police Chief Michael Cochran said the issue is relatively new for communities and noted that municipalities are beginning to develop ordinances addressing the technology.

City Manager KC Hume said he began organizing a work group after hearing similar concerns from residents.

“We have efforts underway to put this work group together to take a look at our code, take a look at what some other jurisdictions have done across Colorado to address some of these exact same questions,” Hume said. 

The discussion also touched on distinctions between traditional electric bicycles and larger electric motorcycles, which Cochran said can travel at speeds comparable to motorcycles.

Cochran’s general police report for August showed high speeds recorded by portable speed monitoring signs, with one sign along West Victory Way near Woodbury Dr. recording a maximum speed of 86 mph in a 35 mph zone. Another located at North Yampa Avenue. and 12th Street recorded a maximum speed of 78 mph in a 35 mph zone.

Public Works Director Danny Paul provided updates on several city projects, including the Highway 40 pedestrian path, city master plan and outdoor watering restrictions.

Paul said work continues on the pedestrian path, with Moffat County assisting the city on construction. He also noted that ADA-compliant ramps have been completed at the Legion Street crossing.

The city also received 12 proposals for an update to its master plan, which dates to 2003. A five-member review team will evaluate the proposals and could bring recommendations to the council during its first meeting in October.

Paul said outdoor watering restrictions remain in effect despite recent rainfall because river flows remain low.

He also updated council on discussions with Twin Enviro and Apex regarding a possible no-cost residential recycling program within city limits. City officials said the company is expected to conduct community outreach before potentially ordering recycling containers later this fall.

Hume also reported that construction continues on the city’s pickleball courts and that 14 entries were received for the city’s business plan competition. Those entries were evenly divided between new and existing businesses.

Five participants attended an optional practice pitch and each received a laptop through a donation. Finalists must submit final business plans by Oct. 5.

The council also approved the appointments of Randy Vorhees, Lyndsay Haywood and June O’Neill to three-year terms on the Parks, Recreation, Open Space & Trails Advisory Board.