Salida - the heart, soul and seat of Chaffee County - anchors the Upper Arkansas River Valley in central Colorado. Although flanked by majestic 14,000-foot snow capped peaks, at just over 7,000 feet in elevation, Salida enjoys a surprisingly mild climate that some refer to as the Banana Belt. Settle into Salida and its relaxed pace, hometown ways and world-class recreational opportunities and you may never want to leave home. But if you do, Salida is perfectly situated for those who want to be in close proximity to the more urban amenities afforded by Colorado's Front Range communities.

City Still Searching for Administrator Click here for more information.

Three finalists for the city administrator position were selected for interviews with Salida's city council. Final candidates were Robert Campbell, Leslie Klusmire and James Stevens. The public was invited to meet the candidates on the evening of Tuesday, June 10th at the SteamPlant Theater and Event Center.

Of the three finalists chosen by the City of Salida City Administrator Search Committee Bob Campbell of Pagosa Springs was considered the best fit for the needs of Salida. Unfortunately he accepted a job with the City of Farmington, New Mexico the Monday following the public interview process.

At this time the City Council is considering it's options. Where to go from here is still under discussion.

The City Administrator serves as the chief administrative officer of the city and is responsible for directing and coordinating all municipal activities. To perform this job successfully, the individual must have considerable knowledge of statutes, municipal codes, and other regulations applicable to city government. Financial acumen, excellent planning, organizing, management, verbal and written communication skills are also essential.

City Council Agenda and Upcoming Meetings Click here for more information.

The next regular meeting of the City Council will be Monday, July 7, 2008. Click here for the July 7th Agenda. Click here for the July 7th Packet (4.4 MB PDF).

In addition, the City Clerk regularly provides a Public Posting of upcoming work sessions and special meetings.

Schedule of regular meetings for City Council, Board of Adjustment, Historic Preservation Commission and Planning Commission. 2008 Meeting Dates (89 KB PDF Format).

City Council authorizes the sale of Vandaveer Ranch Click here for more information.

The City of Salida has been in negotiations with Courageux Development, LLC since September, 2007 for the sale of the Vandaveer Ranch. On Monday, March 17th the City Council directed the Mayor to sign the purchase and sale agreement for this sale. On June 16th the Council authorized an extension of the contract for an additional 120 days. Click the links below to view the purchase and sale agreement or any of the exhibits to the agreement. More information about the history of this project is available on the vandaveer webpage.

  • Purchase and Sale Agreement
  • Exhibit A - Legal Description
  • Exhibit B - Water Supply Addendum
  • Exhibit C - Addendum to Purchase and Sale Agreement
  • Exhibit D - Overall Development Plan
  • Exhibit E - Form of RETA Covenant
  • Exhibit F - Form of Development Fee Covenant
  • Exhibit G - Mobile Home Residential Lease
  • Exhibit H - June 29, 2007 Development Proposal

    • Design Overlay for Sackett's Addition Neighborhood Click here for more information.

    Residents and property owners in the neighborhood east of downtown are concerned about maintaining the character of the neighborhood as the area gains popularity and further development becomes more likely. Marilyn Moore and Kathryn Hardgrave have sent out a number of mailings to residents and hosted several neighborhood meetings on the topic. Based on feedback from the neighborhood, staff has assisted Marilyn and Kathryn in drafting some possible design guidelines for the neighborhood. These guidelines could be adopted by the City as part of a zoning overlay for this neighborhood. During their April 28th meeting the Planning Commission reviewed the guidelines and remanded the application back to the applicants for additional changes. Changes are currently being drafted and property owners in the neighborhood will be notified when the changes are ready for review.

    Please contact Marilyn Moore, 539-9195, jaymoore@aol.com or Kathryn Hardgrave, 539-7262, casavieja@amigo.net with questions or comments about these efforts. You may also contact Dara MacDonald, Community Development Director at dmacdonald@cityofsalida.com.

    History of the Region
    Salida is the county seat of Chaffee County and its largest city, with a population of 5,504 in 2000. The city is the service, supply, and tourism center for the Upper Arkansas Valley. The Denver and Rio Grande Railroad bypassed the existing settlement of Cleora to establish Salida in 1880. Salida became a major division point for the D&RG, which erected extensive railroad facilities north of the commercial district on the opposite bank of the Arkansas River. The city developed quickly, and became the hub of a prosperous mining and agricultural region within a decade of its founding. Salida experienced devastating fires in its business district in 1886 and 1888, but rebounded to build a substantial commercial area consisting principally of two-story brick buildings. Railroad activity began to decline in the 1950s and, in 1971, Salida ceased to be a division point for the D&RG. Tourism, recreation, and arts-related enterprises grew in importance during the second half of the twentieth century. It is within this historic context that Downtown Salida's architectural heritage emerged. For more information on Salida's history or the Salida Downtown National Register, visit www.cityofsalida.com/history.html

    Credits for the Website:

    The creation of this website was supported by the City of Salida and the Community Technical Assistance Program, an office of CSU Cooperative Extension funded by the Colorado Department of Local Affairs.

    Our special thanks go to Jacque Griffin, Adams State College Student and Salida website designer/builder; and to Stevie Rose, City of Salida Intern.

    © Copyright 2003 ~ 2006, City of Salida