Locals for 1A Strong Future Update
During the September 22, 2026 meeting, Locals For 1A Strong Future presented an overview of the Strong Future mill levy. The initiative, which seeks permanent reauthorization of Strong Futures, will appear on the November 2026 Summit County ballot.
Since 2019, over $72 million in Strong Futures funding has been invested into five program areas:
- Wildfire Prevention
- Behavioral Health and Suicide Prevention
- Early Childhood Programs
- Recycling and Waste Diversion
- Community Infrastructure Development and Maintenance
These investments have supported expanding essential services, supporting families, and improving community safety.
Although the current Strong Future mill levy does not end until 2028, it was the desire of the Summit County Commissioners to place the reauthorization question on the 2026 ballot to ask the voters of the County for reauthorization this year.
- Question for reauthorization will be on the November 2026 ballot
- Reauthorization will not raise taxes
- Reauthorization would guarantee ongoing funding for wildfire mitigation, mental health and suicide prevention, recycling, early childhood programs, and community facilities improvements
- All expenditures are subject to local Summit County oversight
Council Discussion
Council voiced overall support for how these funds have been used and reauthorization of Strong Future funding. Later in the meeting, Council voted on a resolution supporting reauthorization.
Snowboard Outreach Society (SOS) Update
SOS Outreach was founded at Vail Mountain in 1993 when they introduced 15 kids from Denver to snowboarding. Originally named Snowboard Outreach Society, their mission was to bring awareness to the new sport while also giving back to the community. Now, as SOS Outreach, they do more than just skiing and riding and are using outdoor-based mentorship to teach life skills to kids and teenagers. They have served over 80,000 youth since 1993 and serve 3,000 youth and 71,000 hours of outdoor engagement yearly across 14 locations across the country. Vail Resorts provides $5,000,000 in pass support for participants, and Copper also supports SOS.
Use of the Old Community Center
The Town of Frisco (TOF) and SOS Outreach have had a building use and management agreement in place since 2008 for the building located at 110 S. 3rd Avenue in Frisco; also known as the “old community center”. SOS staff use this building as an office and for gear storage and manage the meeting/event/party rentals at the building. Staff from SOS Outreach presented an overview of the use and management of the building as well as the related revenue and expenses, which includes a modest revenue share with the Town.
Affordable, accessible gathering space in Summit County is limited. Rentals at the “old community center” range from $50 to $250 based on day, length of rentals, and residency, with Frisco residents receiving a reduced rental rate. The collaboration between the Town of Frisco and SOS maintains this facility for community use by providing opportunities that may not otherwise be available to residents, community groups, and organizations. This space is well used by the community for everything from meetings to historic lectures to birthday parties; there have been 587 room rentals since February 2023.
Council Discussion
Council had questions regarding what was most important to SOS about this building, and SOS explained that gear storage and providing access to an affordable gathering space for the community were most important, in addition to SOS not needing to pay rent so that these funds can be used for staffing to support area youth. Council thanked SOS for their work with youth and providing this space to the community. Council asked about how they could help SOS with their mission, and SOS explained that they could use help with parent and mentor recruitment.
2027 Grant Award Committee Recommendations
On an annual basis, the Town of Frisco considers requests from 501(c)(3) non-profits for in-kind services and micro grants up to $5,000 through the Summit County common grant application. This year, the Town received 71 applications, an increase from last year’s 64 applicants, for the micro grant and/or in-kind services request process. The request for cash funding totaled $216,100.
The Town also makes available the Frisco Community Impact Grant Program which was introduced in 2023. The purpose of this grant is to create a formal, annual process for evaluating investments in nonprofit projects that support the Town’s goals within the budget cycle and that have an exceptional impact on the Frisco community, requiring a higher level of support. This year, the Town received 13 applications, up from seven in the previous grant cycle, for the Community Impact Grant program, with a total funding request of $337,000
A subcommittee of two Town Council Members and Town staff reviewed all nonprofit grant applications and presented their funding recommendations to Council during the September 22, 2026, work session.
Four questions were asked when considering funding:
- Does this non-profit provide fundamental services such as food and shelter?
- Does this non-profit have a direct impact on the Town of Frisco and its residents or businesses?
- Does this non-profit serve a large portion of the community?
- Does this non-profit have strong leadership that drives healthy fiscal practices?
Award Amounts
For the micro grant- 17 organizations were fully funded, 47 organizations were partially funded through in-kind and cash grants, and four organizations were not funded.
For the Community Impact Grant- two organizations were fully funded and three were partially funded.
The staff memo gives a summary of the proposed recommendations from staff and the Council subcommittee, and the spreadsheet provides a more specific breakdown, which includes a cash funding amount of $81,000 for micro-grants, $69,579 for in-kind grants, and $80,000 for Frisco’s Community Impact Grant.
Council Discussion
Council had discussion about funding over the years and that this grant funding has gone down due to budget constraints. Council voiced support for continued funding and for the work done to support these organizations.
Downtown Winter Parking Update
The Public Works department presented a revised downtown overnight parking plan for the 2026–27 winter season which is intended to make overnight parking easier to understand in the Main Street/Avenue area. The proposal expands designated overnight street parking while preserving scheduled access for snow removal. All Town departments worked together to develop this solution.
The parking plan addresses several factors:
- Workforce housing demand: Incoming projects are anticipated to create more demand than they have parking supply.
- A simpler overnight rule for on street parking: Clearer areas with easier to understand signage for overnight parking available from 2:00am – 6:00am- north of Main Street on odd dates and south of Main Street on even dates.
- On odd dates: Overnight parking allowed north of Main Street on the following side avenues-1st Avenue, 3rd Avenue, 6th Avenue, and 7th Avenue from Main Street to Galena Street
- On even dates: Overnight parking allowed south of Main Street on the following side avenues- Madison Avenue, 1st Avenue, 2nd Avenue, and 7th Avenue from Main Street to Granite Street
- Winter maintenance access: The area without allowed overnight parking should remain clear during the overnight window to allow for snow removal and maintenance.
- Interstate Parking: Public Works is working with Interstate Parking to create simpler signs, place signs, and work through overnight parking management. This plan will be finalized based on these discussions.
Council Discussion
Council asked staff to do outreach, especially to workforce housing and local bars and restaurants, once a new overnight parking plan is finalized in the upcoming weeks. Council also emphasized the desire to look at more robust parking enforcement on Town easements outside of the Main Street area. Council also wanted staff to monitor overnight parking on 7th Avenue and evaluate if this is working for local businesses. Council also had a conversation about the impact of workforce housing and parking requirements.
Resolution in Support of Summit County’s Referred Measure 1A
Council considered Resolution 26-19 in support of Summit County initiative, 1A, on the November 2026 ballot to reauthorize the Strong Future mill levy in perpetuity. This is not a new or increased tax. It is a continuation of the mill levy that already exists.
Town Council wanted to consider this resolution in support of 1A, as Strong Future’s program areas positively contribute to key priorities outlined in Frisco’s Strategic Plan. Affordability is supported by early childhood education funding. Inclusion and public safety goals are supported by mental health and suicide prevention efforts. Frisco’s economic vitality and public safety are supported by wildfire mitigation efforts in Frisco’s Backyard. The Town’s climate action goals are supported by the funded waste reduction efforts. In addition, the Summit County Rescue Group facility was funded through Strong Future funding and supports the Town’s public safety goals.
Council Decision
Council voted to approve Resolution 26-19.
Development Code Changes to Drive-Throughs
On September 8, 2026, staff first presented Ordinance 26-17, an ordinance amending Chapter 180 of the Code of Ordinances concerning zoning, subdivision, and development, to limit the locations of drive-through facilities and removing the reference to “taverns” as a use category. Key reasons for limiting drive-through establishments within certain zone districts could include reducing traffic congestion, lowering air pollution from idling cars, and enhancing pedestrian safety by decreasing vehicle-pedestrian conflicts. Restricting drive-throughs can encourage more walkability and improve aesthetics by reducing pavement sprawl while fostering a stronger community character.
Background
In the spring/summer of 2025, the Town Council reviewed an ordinance related to the amount of drive through signs permitted within the Town. During these conversations, the Council stated they would like to consider prohibiting drive-through facilities on Main Street in the future.
During a work session at the February 2026 meeting, Town Council indicated support for prohibiting all types of drive-through establishments in all zoning districts, except the Commercial Oriented District (CO) located in the Summit Boulevard and 10 Mile Drive area where they would be allowed. Following feedback from Town Council, Planning Commission, and the community that there is a desire to limit the areas where drive- through establishments are allowed, the proposed changes include:
- §180-5.1. Table of uses: Adding a use for “Drive-through facility” within the accessory uses category and marking it as a permitted use in the Commercial-Oriented Zoning District.
- §180-5.3. Accessory uses and structures: Adding a new subsection 4 with design requirements for drive-through facilities.
- §180-6.13. Parking and loading regulations: Making the stacking requirement for fast food restaurants to be per order kiosk rather than window and removing the term “tavern” from Table 6-1 and Table 6-2 which regulate the minimum required parking spaces by use.
- §180-9.2. Definitions of general use categories and §180-9.3. General definitions: Amending the definitions of general use categories and specific uses to add clarity and align with the proposed language in the other sections.
Council Decision
Council voted to approve Ordinance 26-17, approving the development code changes, on second reading.
Development Code Changes: Affordable Housing Process
On September 8, 2026, staff first presented Ordinance 26-18, an ordinance amending Chapter 180 of the Code of Ordinances concerning zoning, subdivision and development, to add provisions for the expedited review of development applications. The proposed code amendment establishes clear eligibility criteria for projects seeking expedited 90-day review. The expedited review process begins only when a completed application is submitted. Extensions are available for the developer and the Town if needed.
To qualify, a development must dedicate at least 50 percent of its dwelling units as affordable housing, with rental units serving households earning no more than 100 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI) and ownership units serving households earning no more than 150% of the AMI. Additionally, housing costs must remain affordable by not exceeding 30 percent of household income, and the project may be subject to deed restrictions consistent with the Town’s affordable housing covenant.
Participation in the expedited review process is entirely voluntary, allowing eligible applicants to either utilize the accelerated review timeline or proceed through the Town’s standard development review process. This flexibility, required by state statute, acknowledges that some affordable housing projects may benefit from a traditional review schedule due to financing requirements, design coordination, or other project-specific considerations.
Background
Ordinance 26-18 is a proposed Fast Track Affordable Housing Code Amendment establishing a formal expedited review process for qualifying affordable housing developments. The proposed amendment creates a new Section 180-2.8 of the Frisco Town Code that implements a 90-day development review process for eligible affordable housing projects, consistent with Colorado Proposition 123 requirements, adopted in August 2023, and the Town’s Strategic Housing Plan.
The amendments are intended to reduce regulatory barriers, improve predictability for affordable housing developers, and maintain the Town’s eligibility for future Proposition 123 housing funding, while preserving existing development standards and public review requirements. These regulations must be in place by December 31, 2026, for the Town to remain eligible for future Proposition 123 funding opportunities and competitive housing grant programs.
Council Discussion and Decision
Council voted to approve Ordinance 26-18, approving the development code changes, on second reading.
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.