I want to wish everyone a joyous Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and Happy New Year this holiday season. As I reflect on 2025, I am pleased to share that despite significant cuts in grant funding and stagnant sales tax revenues, the city of Cortez is in a strong position as the year comes to a close. We continue to address deferred maintenance across our recreation facilities, outdoor pool, roads and water infrastructure. In early spring, we adopted an updated Land Use Code after a year of development, including public input and review by a designated subcommittee and the City Council. Updates since adoption are normal for a living document, and working with real-world development proposals helps us assess whether the code functions smoothly or needs adjustments to keep guidelines clear and concise.
One of my proudest achievements this year was implementing wage increases for city staff across the board, following a thorough wage study that reviewed current positions and salary bands. After years of prudent financial decisions, we budgeted these increases in perpetuity, supporting our vision of the city as a premier employer in the area.
Council also invested in the city’s future growth by purchasing the soon-to-be-vacated Empire Electric office building on N. Broadway. Opportunities to acquire large office buildings are rare, and this purchase is phase one of a long-term plan to accommodate growing staff and services for residents. Council held extensive discussions before passing comprehensive regulations on natural medicine, while also refining measurement standards for marijuana regulations. The city remains busy addressing current assets while balancing future growth.
Residents who want to stay informed are encouraged to subscribe to agendas on our website at https://tinyurl.com/ymh2prx9, attend meetings, or provide electronic comments via email. All meetings are recorded and accessible on our YouTube channel at https://tinyurl.com/3jndz6yy.
Looking ahead, 2026 is an election year for City Council, with the majority of seats up for election. Anyone considering running and wanting to learn more is invited to an informational open house at City Hall on Wednesday, Jan. 7, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. The regular municipal election will be held on Tuesday, April 7, with ballots mailed in March. Charter amendments – both typographical and policy – will also appear on the ballot, and the public is encouraged to engage before voting.
Next year, Council will also tackle other major guiding documents. The Code of Ordinances needs a major overhaul to eliminate conflicts and organize it for easier reference. The Comprehensive Plan may also be revisited to ensure it reflects Cortez’s evolving values. After the general election, the next Council will have an opportunity to participate in a retreat to review previous priorities and set a vision for the next two years. Water and infrastructure will remain a major focus as pipes age and demand grows, and the city will continue exploring creative solutions for housing affordability and incentivizing development.
I have had the privilege of serving as mayor for almost four years, after two years as mayor pro tem. I was first elected in 2020 and am now halfway through a second four-year term. Before City Council, I served three years on the Cortez Planning and Zoning Board and three years on the Parks, Recreation, and Forestry Advisory Board. The city of Cortez is a member of the Colorado Municipal League, and in 2024 I was elected to its executive board for a two-year term, representing medium-sized municipalities. This role allows me to bring our rural Southwest perspective to state-level legislative evaluations while keeping our community informed about laws that may affect us.
As one of the youngest mayors in Cortez’s history and only the third woman to serve in the role, I hope to inspire other young, working people to run. We must continue bringing diverse voices and experiences to this board, where lasting, important decisions are made for residents and the broader community of Cortez.
Rachel Medina is the mayor of the city of Cortez.
