I70 Coalition Presentation
Jonathan Godes, I-70 Coalition Director, presented an overview and update of the I70 Coalition’s goals and impacts. The I70 Coalition, also known as Go I70, was formed in 2004 and is now a non-profit organization representing 28 local governments, organizations, and businesses along Colorado’s I-70 mountain corridor. The Coalition focuses on:
- Enhancing mobility and accessibility on I-70 mountain corridor
- Advocating for safety and construction improvements
- Encouraging state and federal attention on corridor
- Participating in studies, plans, and stakeholder involvement processes
What are the issues?
- I-70 mountain corridor capacity largely unchanged since 1979
- Colorado forecasted to grow by 3 million people by 2050
- Travel times estimated to triple by 2035 from year 2000 volumes
- Interest in outdoor recreation increasing
What are the proposed solutions?
- Specific highway improvements
- High-speed transit
- Non-Infrastructure improvements
All three are needed to meet the long-term needs of this critical corridor, and Federal funding is vital to moving large projects forward, in addition to State funding. The Coalition works to advocate for funding for the I70 corridor.
The Coalition has focused on the following legislation and areas to reduce crashes:
Chain/Traction Laws
- Legislation has been proposed (and passed) over the last decade to better mitigate traction issues.
“Pain points”
- Floyd Hill
- Eisenhower/Johnson Tunnels
- Vail Pass
- Dowd Junction
- Glenwood Canyon
Communication Efforts
The GoI70 campaign is a robust transportation demand management program, which seeks to reduce congestion and improve mobility, shift travel demand outside of peak travel hours, support and promote carpooling, and support and promote transit with Front Range and out-of-state visitors, as well as corridor residents.
Frisco Support
- Include transit/travel information in event promotions
- Utilize the GoI70.com resource page – videos, collateral, etc.
- Read and share GoI70 blog posts
- Engage with GoI70 on social media posts – follow, like, tag, comment, share
- Include information about I-70 mountain corridor travel on websites
- Help the Coalition relationship build with potential partners who can extend their messaging
- Promote GoI70.com as the I-70 mountain corridor travel resource
- Tap the Coalition as subject matter experts for press releases, speaking opportunities, milestone events, etc.
Council Discussion
Council had questions about Bustang and if this State of Colorado bus service will continue. It was explained that the State legislature has expanded funding by allowing express lane revenue to be used for public transportation, which will provide about $25 million in additional funding for Bustang. Bustang has been very popular along the I70 corridor, but it is intended to be a Statewide service, which means there are areas where it is less utilized. The Coalition sees Bustang as a critical part of the solutions needed for I70.
Council asked about how legislation can address car rental companies and requiring tires appropriate to the season. The Coalition Director said that he believed that legislation is coming to require more appropriate equipment for car rental companies who are now just required to provide information, but he noted that rental car companies have a strong lobby that has advocated for requiring minimal restrictions.
Council asked questions regarding the narrow corridor I70 has in Clear Creek County and Clear Creek County’s need for EMS services because of the needs caused by I70 traffic accidents. Council expressed empathy for Clear Creek County, underlining the need to work together to support each other.
Council also had questions about the Coalition’s involvement around hazmat using the Eisenhower Tunnel. The Coalition continues to grapple with this tough discussion with the understanding that bringing hazmat through the corridor is inherently challenging. Council noted that fire suppression in the tunnel could be improved, as well as hazmat mitigation on the west side of the tunnel to protect the Dillon and Silverthorne watershed.
Main Street Waste and Recycling Container Upgrades and Restaurant Composting Pilot Program
Staff presented information on two Frisco sustainability initiatives, Main Street waste and recycling container upgrades and a restaurant composting pilot program.
Main Street Waste and Recycling Container Upgrades
Staff proposed an upgrade to the existing public waste and recycling containers located on Main Street. The current containers present ongoing operational challenges, including not being wildlife proof, litter being blown out of the container by the wind, contamination of recycling, and general aging. Staff proposed replacing the old containers with enclosed, modular waste and recycling stations designed to improve functionality, accessibility, durability, and appearance. The upgraded containers would also include improved signage and opportunities for collaboration with the Frisco Arts Council on enclosure graphics and design. To replace the existing public waste and recycling containers on Main Street, staff would purchase sixteen (16) dual containers at a total cost of $114,400, which would be funded by the Frisco bag fee program.
Restaurant Composting Pilot Program
The second initiative is a pilot composting infrastructure program for Main Street restaurants. Food waste diversion remains limited in Frisco due to barriers including hauling costs, limited enclosure space, and operational concerns from businesses. Staff are proposing installation of four shared compost collection enclosures in downtown alley locations to support participating restaurants and improve access to commercial composting services. The schedule would include pick up two times per week. The pilot program would allow the Town to evaluate participation, operational logistics, and long-term program feasibility while supporting local waste diversion goals. Staff anticipates that the pilot program would run for 24 months at a cost of $37,080, which would also be funded by the Frisco bag fee program.
Council Discussion and Direction
Council had questions about maintaining the restaurant composting containers and the areas around them. Public Works has been involved in this planning and proposal to assure budgeting and sufficient maintenance and cleaning. Council also had questions about the capacity at the Summit County Resource Allocation Park (SCRAP) for compost materials, and staff stated that SCRAP has capacity for the whole County’s composting. In addition, staff explained that Breckenridge has shared commercial dumpster enclosures and that the model being proposed for Frisco does not require these enclosures, making it faster and more economical to implement.
Council was supportive of both concepts and directed staff to move forward.
Ordinance Authorizing the Sale of Four Mary Ruth Place Workforce Housing Units
Staff brought Ordinance 26-11 to Council, which authorizes the sale of four (4) units at the Town-owned Mary Ruth Place affordable housing development, which was first discussed with Council in 2025. Per Colorado statute, Council must authorize the sale of Town property by ordinance. The primary driver for selling units at Mary Ruth Place is financial sustainability within the Town’s housing fund. The Town has made substantial commitments to three significant affordable housing projects: Granite Park (11 Town owned units, costing approximately $515,000 annually through 2042), 602 Galena (54 units with an $8.1 million contribution), and 101 W. Main (52 units with a $6.4 million contribution). These investments have significantly strained the housing fund, with Town staff notifying Council during the June 2025 housing retreat that corrective action would be required by 2026 to maintain positive fund balance. Selling the selected Mary Ruth units represents the most feasible way to offset these financial pressures to continue to support future housing opportunities. The financial impact of selling the four Mary Ruth Place units has been estimated to contribute $1.8 million to the Frisco Housing Fund.
Another factor driving the sale is the need to convert existing rental units into ownership opportunities due to a gap that the Town has struggled to fill in 2026, having created only one new for-sale unit in Frisco so far this year due to funding constraints. Selling these four units at Mary Ruth Place enables the Town to create new ownership housing in one of the most desirable parts of Frisco. This aligns with broader community goals of balancing rental and ownership options, while retaining local workers through deed-restricted housing. The proposed sale also focuses specifically on the four units currently rented to Tenmile Basin employees.
Mary Ruth Place Background
Mary Ruth Place, which was completed and occupied in late 2018, is a rental workforce-housing development located off Main Street Frisco at Galena Street and Fourth Avenue. The project created nine new units: six one-bedrooms, two two-bedrooms, and a studio. Of the newly built units, four are rented to employees working in the Tenmile Basin, and four are rented to full-time Town of Frisco employees. The development was funded primarily through Summit County Ballot Measure 5A, a 2016 voter-approved sales tax increase to support workforce housing initiatives. This $2 million project delivered units with modern amenities and convenient access to transit, trails, and Main Street businesses.
Council Discussion and Decision
Staff answered questions about type of deed restrictions that would be applied, forming a new HOA, how the proposed sale prices were set, and the sales process. The proposal outlined work/live only deed restrictions that would not require AMI caps and that there would be a lottery to select the buyers. Staff utilized the Strategic Housing Plan and the need to raise about $1.8 million to set the sales prices. Staff believes that HOA fees would be approximately $300 per month.
Council had an extensive discussion about whether to have a deed restriction with AMI requirements, rather than it being work/live only with no AMI requirements. Council gave staff direction to go with a 115% AMI requirement for the sale price with an income buffer up to 130% and possibly move to a work/live deed restriction with no AMI requirement if the Town is not able to sell at that AMI within 90 days. Council also directed staff to restrict the sales to the Tenmile Basin and after 90 days open sales to all of Summit County if the units have not sold.
Council voted to approve Ordinance 26-11 on first reading with amendments based on the above direction from Council to be provided at the 2nd reading. The second reading is scheduled for the June 9, 2026 Town Council meeting.
Amended Ground Lease Agreement for 101 West Main
Staff presented Ordinance 26-16 to amend and restate the 101 West Main 99-Year Ground Lease between the Town of Frisco and West Main Apartments/NHP for the redevelopment and operation of affordable workforce housing at 101 West Main Street. On June 25, 2024, the Town and NHPF West Main, LLC entered into a Second Amended and Restated Development Agreement for the redevelopment project located at 101 West Main Street. This amended and restated agreement includes updated tenant and ownership structure, changes to financing and lending provisions, updated regulatory and compliance references, right of refusal updates, insurance and construction requirement updates, and administrative and technical updates.
Background
The Town entered into a ground lease on August 27, 2025, with NHPF West Main, LLC. The Amended and Restated Ground Lease updates and consolidates the lease structure to reflect the final ownership, financing, partnership, and regulatory requirements associated with the project financing and Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (“LIHTC”) closing. The lease governs the development, construction, ownership, and operation of the affordable housing rental project consisting of 52 rental units, ranging from 30%-80% AMI, and associated amenities on Town-owned property. The Town will retain ownership of the land while leasing the property to the tenant (NHPF) for 99 years for long-term affordable housing purposes.
The Town has been working with the NHP Foundation (NHPF) since early 2023 on affordable housing opportunities in Frisco. The mission of NHPF is to “preserve and create sustainable, service-enriched multifamily housing that is affordable to low- and moderate-income families and seniors, and beneficial to their communities”. The Town is currently working with NHPF on two affordable housing projects, located at 101 W Main and 602 Galena. Recognizing the significant need for all housing types and rental rates within Frisco, the Town has focused on ensuring that the two projects provide a range of affordable housing options to the community.
Council Decision
Council voted to approve Ordinance 26-16, approving the amended and restated ground lease, on first reading. The second reading is scheduled for the June 9, 2026 Town Council meeting.
Waste Reduction and Recycling: Allowing Glass to be Included in Single-Stream Recycling Consistent with Summit County Recycling System
Staff presented an ordinance to amend Chapter 124, Article III of Frisco Town Code to bring it into alignment with recent procedural changes regarding allowing glass in single-stream recycling. Summit County Resource Allocation Park (SCRAP), in coordination with local licensed haulers, has begun accepting glass in the single-stream recycling system, which was previously prohibited. The transition has already been implemented in phases by SCRAP, which removed glass as a contaminant category on March 30, 2026 and allowed full program rollout on May 1, 2026. Glass will still be accepted in the glass-only containers at recycling centers throughout Summit County.
Council Decision
Town Council approved Ordinance 26-15 on second reading.
Building Construction and Housing Standards to 2024 Building Codes – Ordinance 26-09
The Town of Frisco typically adopts a new series of building codes once every six years. Frisco is currently using the 2018 versions of the International Code Council (ICC) codes, along with a few national, state, and local codes. Staff presented an ordinance to adopt the 2024 International Codes and the associated amendments requested by Town Council. Town Council discussed the potential adoption of the 2024 International Building, Fire, and Energy Codes at three Council meetings:
Direction from these discussions was incorporated into the presented ordinance, including direction from the March 10, 2026 discussion:
- International Fire Code and suggested amendments- Council gave direction to proceed with the International Fire Code with some changes that have been discussed between Comprehensive Building Code Services (“CBCS”), Summit Fire & EMS, and Red, White and Blue Fire District which meet Town public safety needs and consider the expertise of local fire officials.
- International Energy Conservation Code (IECC)- Council gave direction to go to 2024 energy code, mandate Zero Energy Ready Home (ZERH) for new residential construction, allow for the three pathways to meet requirements (prescriptive path, simulated performance-based path, and energy rating index (ERI) path, and go to an ERI of 50. Council also gave direction to provide a “leniency” provision with a delayed timeframe for enforcement so people currently in the design phase would have some time to submit their design without mid-design changes.
In addition, provisions recommended by John Schumacher, Frisco’s Contracted Building Official, were included in the ordinance and outlined in the staff report.
Council Discussion During the May 26, 2026 Meeting
After reviewing the May 26 staff presentation and public comment, Council directed staff to make six modifications to the Ordinance as presented at first reading:
- Modify Section R401 to apply the DOE Efficient New Homes program to all residential dwelling types (not just single family, two family, and townhomes).
- Delete suggested modifications to Section R405 regarding who can complete the simulated performance calculation.
- Delete the ERI amendment due as it is not applicable with the first modification made.
- Remove the allowance for points to be added for air conditioning.
- Remove proposed amendments to R105.5 Expiration in both the International Building Code (IBC) and International Residential Code (IRC).
- Include an expiration paragraph under the International Fire Code, 102.7.
Council Decision
Town Council voted to approve the Ordinance 26-09 on second reading with the six modifications Council directed staff make during the May 12, 2026 Council 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.