Durango City Council candidates made their first virtual appearances together on Tuesday in a candidate forum hosted on Zoom by the La Plata County Democrats.
Candidates addressed issues such as the affordable housing and homelessness crises, the city’s jail and 911 dispute with the county, and raising the minimum wage.
On whether to support increased 911 service fees to the county, candidate Kip Koso said he wants to form a board composed of city and county representatives, including people who deal with 911 services, to decide how they are operated.
He said he is not a fan of the city partnering with Archuleta County for jail services, a proposal that was to be considered by City Council on Tuesday, noting such a move would put distance between families and people who are incarcerated.
Candidate Jessika Buell, who is finishing her first term on City Council in April, said the jail agreement with Archuleta County would reduce the cost to taxpayers of housing inmates by 33%.
She said City Council tried to negotiate with the county to reach a jail agreement, an effort she was directly involved in, but the county pulled the rug out from under the city.
Candidate Olivier Bosmans, another councilor finishing his first term, said he is likely the only councilor with a good relationship with the county and its sheriff.
He said he would have councilors and commissioners meet at county offices first to apologize for recent “friction” and lawsuits lodged against the county and sheriff, and then resume the conversation. He also does not approve of recent lawsuits or the idea of housing inmates in Archuleta County.
On affordable housing, Koso said it is an important matter, but the city shouldn’t allow housing to consume all of the city’s budget when other important issues, such as child care and transportation, need funding too.
Bosmans echoed a similar sentiment, saying it is easy to get caught up in details and lose sight of the bigger picture. He suggested the city’s Fair Share Program could be improved.
Candidate Shirley Gonzales said she supports a greater focus on the unhoused population, via strengthened partnerships with providers who can help residents dealing with substance abuse and mental illness.
Buell said affordable housing is a passion of hers and a top priority for residents. During her time on council, it has been added to the city’s strategic plan, and during that time, the city has approved more than 800 units specifically for the workforce.
Candidates were mostly noncommittal one way or another when asked whether they support a minimum-wage increase, although candidates Shirley Gonzales and Chris Elias gave the most definitive answers.
Gonzales said she is a “firm believer” in increasing the minimum wage, but any increases should start with city government and other large tax-supported organizations like Fort Lewis College.
Elias said the minimum wage needs to be raised to give workers “a fighting chance to be able to live here” among out-of-town homebuyers and in a secondary housing market.
He stopped short of saying he absolutely supports a city-mandated minimum wage hike, saying he needs to take a closer look at the issue.
cburney@durangoherald.com
