Ridgway town councilors tabled a draft “zero-waste” policy for events on town property after public backlash about how the rules would impact business owners and community groups.

The proposal discussed during an April 8 town council meeting created a laundry list of rules for events on town property, including requiring events to use only compostable or recyclable materials and be responsible for collecting, monitoring and hauling away that waste. Users voiced concerns about practicality, affordability, health and safety.

Councilors asked the Sustainability Advisory Board to rework the draft with more input from the businesses, nonprofit organizations and vendors putting on those events. They also requested that a revised draft come back to the council during a work session, rather than a town council meeting.

This is the second time this year the council has asked the Sustainability Advisory Board to redo its policy proposals in response to concerns raised by town leaders and the public.

During the same meeting, councilors debated the board’s no- idling ordinance, which it had previously asked the Sustainability Advisory Board to revise in January.

Councilors gave initial approval last week to that revised version of the no-idling policy that would ban idling only in certain zones, while pointing to outstanding concerns that they may address when considering final approval next month.

Zero waste policy

The town’s strategic plan for 2026 includes a “zero-waste” policy. The Sustainability Advisory Board spent the past few months researching similar policies in other Colorado municipalities, including Erie, Vail, Mountain Village and Durango.

The policy included in the resolution would have applied to all events with approved special event permits on town property and vendors at those events.

Town Manager Preston Neill would have been able to approve applications to waive those rules for events. Neill said the rules wouldn’t include penalties, but said non-compliance may count against groups applying for special event permits in the future.

The proposal listed requirements to use only compostable materials or recyclable plastics and banning single-serve packaging such as chip bags. It would have required the groups in charge of events to provide receptacles for those materials and monitors for those receptacle stations and arrange for hauling away those materials.

Business owners and representatives from various nonprofits who host events on town property pushed back on almost all of the rules, calling them unfeasible due to high costs and health and safety concerns.

Amy Kehoe, who has helped organize Ouray County Pride in Hartwell Park, fully opposed the resolution and policy. She called it well-intentioned, but said it would harm relationships with groups that have events in the park who couldn’t afford to comply with the rules. Sue Husch, who helps run events on town property for the Sherbino Theater, agreed.

“Without the infrastructure to support a zero-waste policy, there will be zero events,” Husch said.

True Grit Cafe owner Tammee Tuttle encouraged the Sustainability Advisory Board to consider the health and safety standards required of food service providers.

Richard “Juice” Pinney, the cafe’s general manager, asked the board to work on something more feasible and provided a list of suggestions.

“I want to see something happen, it just feels like it’s a lot,” Pinney said.

Many of those who commented also offered to work with the Sustainability Advisory Board on a policy that makes more sense.

Ultimately, the council asked the board to work on a more relaxed policy for reducing waste and eventually bring back that policy to a work session. They also agreed a starting point would be incorporating zero waste rules for events sponsored by the town, such as the summer concert series, and using only aluminum cups and banning styrofoam containers and plastic bags.

No-idling policy The council gave initial approval to a revised vehicle idling policy, marking the fourth time the policy has come before the council. Councilors previously asked the Sustainability Advisory Board to rework the policy to address concerns, including enforceability.

The updated version still prohibits vehicle idling for more than two minutes within a one-hour period, but only on public property or rights-of-way in a specific part of town – the town’s “Historic Business” zoning district.

The zone includes the downtown area as well as streets around Hartwell Park and the parking lot in front of Cimarron Coffee & Books. It also includes the area in front of the Ridgway Post Office, which was identified as a hot spot for idling.

The rules include a list of exceptions for certain vehicles such as emergency vehicles and certain construction vehicles. It also says the two-minute idling time does not include when riders are getting off and on larger transportation vehicles, such as buses that can transport at least 16 passengers.

Violating the policy would be considered a violation of the municipal code, punishable by a maximum fine of $300, rather than a traffic infraction, according to Neill. If adopted, the town would plan to spend roughly $1,000 on signs to accompany the policy.

Councilors Kevin Grambley and Michelle Montague questioned whether the council had agreed on applying the rules to the entire Historic Business district during its most recent discussion on the policy.

Trish Greenwood, who was sworn in as the council’s newest member earlier in the meeting, asked if the policy addressed prior concerns about enforceability.

Mayor John Clark said the policy would always have enforceability issues, but that applying it to a certain zone and providing signs would help with those challenges. Grambley questioned whether the town could reduce idling with signs, rather than a policy.

Mayor Pro Tem Beth Lakin argued the town needs a policy to enforce the desired behavior.

“Now I have the town code behind me when I say ‘Hey, could you stop (idling)?,’” Lakin said.

Clark said it comes down to whether the town wants to enforce its educational campaign against idling, which began years ago.

“Do we want to be ‘no-idle Ridgway,’ or do we want to wash our hands of the responsibility?” Clark said.

Grambley said he thought it was a question of whether the town wants to adopt policies it cannot enforce. Clark called the policy the best compromise to date.

Public comment largely voiced support for the policy, with one resident in opposition.

Councilors ultimately approved a first reading of the policy 4-1, with Montague voting no. Councilor Josey Scoville was absent from the meeting.

The policy will have to come back for a second reading and final approval from the council. Greenwood said she voted yes because she wanted more time to think about the idea before formal adoption, which could happen at the next town council meeting in May.

Discussion on Sustainability Advisory Board approach, impact Both items proposed by the Sustainability Advisory Board during the April 8 meeting prompted questions and concerns about the board’s approach and impact.

Tuttle commented on the no-idling policy, saying she felt the town was becoming riddled with rules.

“We’re becoming the town of ‘noes,” she said.

Terese Seal, who lives in Ridgway and sits on the town’s planning commission, asked for the board to shift its focus to education rather than policy.

“I feel like this board is bringing up s—. They’re bringing up things that we need to address, but not backing it up with enough information. We’re making more division in our town,” Seal said.

Terry Schuyler, a former town councilor and liaison to the Sustainability Advisory Board, said the board has eight main charges, which include recommending and advising town policy and practices that advance and encourage sustainability.

“This is not an opposition group,” Schuyler said.

Clark said he was troubled by Seal’s comment.

“It’s discouraging to hear and I think, on the other hand, we live in challenging times and it’s hard to avoid conflict,” Clark said.

Ultimately, the council agreed the board’s proposals should be presented at work sessions instead of forwarded directly to the council for approval at the regular meetings.

Lia Salvatierra is a journalist with Report for America, a service program that helps boost underserved areas with more reporting resources.