Mountain Community Coalition Update
During the April 14, 2026 Town Council meeting, Jessie Burley, Town of Breckenridge Sustainability Manager and lead on the Mountain Community Coalition, provided an update of the Mountain Energy Project and the Coalition’s work. In February 2025, the Towns of Breckenridge, Frisco, Dillon, Silverthorne, Keystone, Blue River, and Summit County government formed a Mountain Community Coalition to request participation in Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) proceedings, and this, along with community concerns around the potential environmental, health, and economic impacts, led the Colorado Public Utilities Commission to call for hearings to gather public feedback about Xcel’s proposed Mountain Energy Project.
Mountain Community Coalition Goals
- Climate- Impacted communities all have climate related goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to curb natural gas use.
- Affordability- High cost of living area; fought to lower overall cost of the project and to focus resources on opportunities to reduce the reliance on gas.
- Resilience- Electrical grid resilience as capacity in the electrical system grows; reduce exposure to natural disasters.
The Problem and Proposed Solution
Xcel has identified a forecasted natural gas supply shortfall in the eastern mountain gas system for peak hour demand (time when it is the coldest in the area) that exceeds available capacity through 2033. Rather than pursuing more conventional solutions, such as more pipeline (total estimated cost of $328.3M), Xcel has proposed a multipronged approach that emphasizes supplemental gas supply with long-term CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) and LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) facilities ($78.6M in proposed cost), non-pipeline alternative measures (NPA) to reduce and conserve gas use ($48.7M in proposed cost), and electric distribution upgrades to support more electrification ($28M in proposed cost).
Public Utilities Commission and the Mountain Energy Project Process
The Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) regulates utilities and facilities so that the people of Colorado receive safe, reliable, and reasonably-priced services consistent with the economic, environmental, and social values in Colorado. As part of that responsibility, the PUC had to review Xcel’s Mountain Energy Project, and with input from the community and the Mountain Community Coalition, a settlement was reached that emphasized non-pipeline solutions, better tracking of how natural gas is used, downsizing supplemental supply, outreach and education, equity on how costs are recovered, and an electric heat pump pilot.
Implementation will include a non-pipeline alternative (NPA) working group, NPA workforce training, residential rebates for NPA programs, and outreach.
Outreach will include meetings focused on rebate and incentive programs:
Virtual Public Meeting
Date and time: Wednesday, April 15, 2026 from 12:00pm to 2:00pm
Register at: https://tinyurl.com/MEP-Virtual
In-person Public Meeting
Date and time: Wednesday, May 6, 2026 from 4:00pm to 6:00pm
Location: Frisco Community Room, 110 South 3rd Avenue, Frisco, CO 80443
Discussion
Council discussed the energy code updates they have been considering, including the Department of Energy Resilient Home program and the solar electric ready code. Council was also interested in how progress on greenhouse gas reductions would be tracked, and Jessie Burley explained that High Country Conservation Center works on this audit every three years, which then informs Xcel’s reporting.
Council also discussed how to promote the incentive and rebate programs and how to support that by amplifying Xcel’s information.
Summit Fire & EMS Fire Restrictions and Mitigation Update
Summit Fire & EMS staff presented current information and updates about fire restrictions and mitigation efforts.
- All outdoor burning requires permitting through Summit Fire & EMS. This includes any slash or pile burning, as well as backyard campfires/firepits. The only exception is agricultural burning at ranches, which does not require permitting.
- Summit Fire & EMS reiterated that restrictions are based on fuel moisture, as well as elevated risk due to an influx of visitors and forest use, such as during July 4th. They may increase restrictions directly before a time of higher activity/visitation because of the possibility of higher human caused risk for wildfire, but always with fuel moisture data considered.
- Fire departments, the US Forest Service, and other agencies meet twice weekly at the beginning of each week to assess fire risk, which includes forecasted weather, fuel moisture content, and human risk. Specific criteria around this data determines whether fire restrictions are implemented.
- Following the U.S. Forest Service’s lead, agencies work together to maintain consistent restrictions across counties, regions, the state, and forests. This unified approach ensures that visitors aren’t encouraged to move to other areas to find less restrictive rules. Discussion
Council talked about how to ensure that visitors understand fire restrictions. Ideas included how to inform short term rental customers, use SCALERTS for visitors, and how to make sure information centers are providing this information. Council also asked about trailhead signage and how to get information out there, and it was clarified that the US Forest Service does put up signage at trailheads when there are stage two restrictions. Summit Fire staff also reiterated that there are currently no fire restrictions in place and that this is evaluated each week.
Pioneer Park Construction Contract
The primary goal of the Pioneer Park project is to improve and revitalize Pioneer Park to better serve the broader community through additional uses, features for a variety of ages, improved connectivity, and other site amenities. Following Town Council’s review of the Pioneer Park design and incorporating community feedback, Town staff collaborated with SCJ Alliance to produce a plan set, project manual, and bid form to support a request for proposal (RFP) for construction services. Seven submissions were received. Staff reviewed these submissions, and two were selected for interviews. Subsequently, AD Miller of Centennial, Colorado was selected to complete construction with a reduced project scope that excludes restroom construction at this time.
The budget for the Pioneer Park project is $1,500,000 and the contracted amount with AD Miller is $1,357,527.29 to allow for permitting and other costs. Subsequently, it was determined that a restroom could not be added to the project within that budget. The revised scope for the project still includes court resurfacing, playground equipment, walkways, boardwalk, parking, fencing, seating, boulders, landscaping improvements, halfcourt basketball amenity, practice wall, player canopy and bench, hammock and slackline posts, and signage.
Staff are continuing to evaluate potential funding sources for the addition of a restroom facility, including two additional grant opportunities, the Gates Family Foundation’s Capital Grant program and the T-Mobile Hometown Grant. Staff are also pursuing additional funding from the DOLA Strong Communities Grant. If additional funding is secured, staff will return to Council with a potential change order request to add restroom construction.
Discussion and Decision
Town Council questioned why the project remains expensive despite a reduced scope, and staff directed back to the A.D. Miller bid sheet, which breaks down the costs. Town Council directed staff to continue to find a way to build restrooms in Pioneer Park in the future.
Town Council voted to approve Resolution 26-12 to enter into an agreement with AD Miller for Pioneer Park construction.
Ordinance to Update Water Conservation Regulations
As of March 31, 2026, the North Ten Mile Creek watershed, which provides Frisco with much of its water, has received 85.45 inches of snowfall this winter season, producing 7.295 inches of snow water equivalent (SWE). This is significantly below the five-year averages of 180.28 inches of snowfall and 14.534 inches of SWE, representing approximately 47% of average snowfall and more than a 50% reduction in stored water. Additionally, current streamflow levels in North Ten Mile Creek are tracking at levels typically observed in late April through mid-May, indicating an accelerated runoff timeline.
These historically low snowfall and snowpack levels have led staff to re-evaluate how water restrictions are enacted. In response to these conditions, staff recommend that Town Council authorize the Town Manager to implement water conservation measures outside of the standard triggers outlined in Chapter 171-20 of the Town of Frisco Water Code. Specifically, staff recommend advancing directly from Phase 1 (voluntary measures) to Phase 3 (mandatory restrictions), which would limit non-essential outdoor irrigation to two days per week in addition to other restrictions.
Discussion and Decision
Town Council had questions about the possibility of North Ten Mile Creek running dry. Water staff said that this was possible and that we may need to rely on the Town’s two wells, which have been resilient even when the Reservoir has been very low. In addition, Town saw a reduction of 200,000 gallons per day in customer water demand when water conservation restrictions were in effect in the summer of 2025, and this makes Town staff confident that community members will once again meet and exceed the call to conserve.
Town Council voted to approve Ordinance 26-10 on first reading. Second reading will be during the April 28, 2026 meeting. Restrictions would not go into effect until early May if this ordinance passes on second reading and the decision is made to go into restrictions, and any changes would be communicated to water customers and the whole community if this decision is made.
Frisco Bay Marina Moves to the General Fund
Each year, Town Council adopts an annual budget. Periodically, adjustments are required to reflect changing conditions. During the February 24, 2026 Frisco Town Council meeting, Council discussed just such changing conditions at the Dillon Reservoir, which is expected to have significantly lower water levels that will substantially impact operations at the Frisco Bay Marina. At that meeting, Council gave staff direction to return at a future meeting with an ordinance that adjusted the 2026 budget and moved the Frisco Bay Marina from an enterprise fund into the general fund. During the March 24 meeting, Town Council considered on first reading Ordinance 26-08, which proposes supplemental appropriations to align the Marina Fund budget with revised 2026 projections and to transition the Marina from an Enterprise Fund to a Governmental (General Fund-supported) operation. Subsequently, Town Council approved Ordinance 26-08 on second reading during this meeting.
Frisco Town Council Meetings: Ways to Participate
Frisco Town Council meetings are available to view via Civic Plus Resident Portal, Zoom, and YouTube, and are also held in person to make Town Council meetings easier to access for everyone.
The public can provide comment during meetings via Zoom or in person (not on YouTube), and a public comment period will be available at 7:00pm; during the consideration of ordinances; and at the discretion of Town Council during work session items, which are discussions that don’t require a formal vote by Town Council and do not require public comment. Again, this hybrid approach is intended to make Town Council meetings more accessible.