|
Colorado - Thu. 04/09/26 |
A Free Business Publication from Alpine Bank
|
|
View in Browser
|
|
|
| |
DENVER WATER INSTITUTES DROUGHT RATE PRICING
|
| |
|
|
| |
Denver Water’s board voted Wednesday to implement the higher rates beginning in May. They will remain in effect until April 2027. The vote to institute drought charges follows Denver Water's enactment of Stage 1 water restrictions on March 25. Denver Water serves more than 1.5 million people in the Denver Metro area. This is the first time since 2002 the state's largest water utility has imposed drought pricing. Beginning in May, customers will pay a higher rate for water usage that is greater than that indoor usage average.
Denver Water will charge customers based on three tiers of water usage that it already uses to disincentivize excessive consumption:
- Tier 1: average indoor water usage, calculated based on winter water use, which won’t be subject to a surcharge
- Tier 2: water used above the indoor water usage level, up to 15,000 gallons per month above that level
- Tier 3: excess water used per month that exceeds 15,000 gallons
Under drought pricing, residential customers will pay an additional $1.10 per 1,000 gallons used in Tier 2 and an additional $2.20 per 1,000 gallons used in Tier 3. The Tier 1 water usage rate of $3.02 per 1,000 gallons will not change under drought pricing. Tier 2 will increase from $5.44 to $6.54 per 1,000 gallons once water usage has exceeded the winter baseline. The Tier 3 rate will rise from $7.25 to $9.90 per 1,000 gallons used in that category.
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
LAKEWOOD VOTERS OVERWHELMINGLY SUPPORT THE RETURN OF ZONING RESTRICTIONS
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
In 2025, the Lakewood City Council passed four ordinances that were designed to increase construction of more housing, resulting in greater density, and the intent was to lower the cost of housing. In January, a group of citizens successfully petitioned to get measures on a special election ballot to reverse the zoning measures passed by council. On Tuesday, voters in Lakewood passed four measures, all by a nearly 2-to-1 margin, to restore the zoning code that was in place before the council changed it in 2025. The new rules that council had passed in 2025 went into effect Jan. 1, 2026. Lakewood is the state’s fifth-largest city with about 156,000 residents.
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
THE “PURE LUXURY” HOUSING MARKETS, INCLUDING RIFLE, COLORADO
|
| |
|
|
| |
Realtor.com identified 13 U.S. housing markets where at least half the active listings were priced above $1 million, but there were fewer than 500 of those listings. The listing was derived to describe “pure luxury” markets rather than areas that have high housing costs. There were five of these luxury markets in California, with the rest scattered from Kapaa, Hawaii to Nantucket, Massachusetts.
- Nantucket, Mass.: 99 percent of listings $1 million or more
- Vineyard Haven, Mass.: 90 percent
- Jackson, Wyo.: 68 percent
- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, Calif.: 69 percent
- Rifle, Colo.: 58 percent
- Hailey, Idaho: 62 percent
- Kapaa, Hawaii: 63 percent
- Napa, Calif.: 62 percent
- Salinas, Calif.: 62 percent
- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, Calif.: 57 percent
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
COLORADO COMPANIES ON FORBES BEST COMPANIES TO WORK FOR 2026
|
| |
|
|
| |
Nineteen Colorado-based companies landed on Forbes’ recently published lists of the best employers in the U.S. Forbes, along with market research firm Statista, created two lists, the top 500 mid-sized employers (1,000 to 5,000 employees) and the top 700 large employers (more than 5,000 employees). The rankings were based on multiple years of survey data, including recommendations from current employees, and companies do not pay to be part of the rankings. Colorado had nine large companies and 10 mid-sized companies land on the lists, across sectors ranging from education to health care to transportation and engineering.
Best large companies to work for in Colorado:
- Children’s Hospital Colorado in Aurora, No. 65
- Noodles & Company Restaurants in Broomfield, No. 179
- ARCADIS in Highlands Ranch, No. 182
- University of Colorado in Boulder, No. 206
- Advanced Energy Industries in Fort Collins, No. 414
- Arrow Electronics in Centennial, No. 450
- VF in Denver, No. 577
- Alterra Mountain Company in Denver, No. 632
- Gates in Denver, No. 660
Of the Best mid-sized companies to work for, Colorado had two in the top 100:
- 45. Vantor in Westminster
- 91. PCL Construction in Denver
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
A LUXURY HOTEL, HOUSING WORKERS, SHORT-TERM RENTALS: WEST SLOPE BATTLE
|
| |
|
|
| |
The town of Ridgway filed suit in Ouray County District Court on March 27 alleging a hotel in Ridgway, the 52-unit MTN Lodge, signed a contract with the firm building a $1 billion luxury hotel in Mountain Village to house the workers building the hotel, which violates the “general commercial" zoning where MTN Lodge is located that does not allow “household living” or residential development. The hotel’s owners have not applied for any change of use to allow for stays longer than 30 days. In 2023, Ridgway voters voted to increase the town's lodging tax from 3.5 percent to 6 percent, with half of the tax revenue going toward tourism promotion and half going to affordable housing, childcare and home ownership support.
Despite an earlier promise to pay the town’s lodging tax, the latest correspondence from the hotel owners points to town regulations that waive sales or lodging taxes on stays longer than 30 days. The $1 billion hotel is the Four Seasons project on 4 acres in the heart of Mountain Village, which includes 52 hotel rooms, 43 one-bedroom to five-bedroom hotel residences, 26 private apartments priced between $4 million and $35 million and 10 employee apartments. The $1 billion project is the first large-scale luxury hotel in San Miguel County in 15 years.
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
ASPEN SKIING CO. ANNOUNCES NEW SEASON PASS OPTION FOR 2026-27
|
| |
|
|
| |
On Wednesday, the Aspen Skiing Company announced its options for ski passes for the 2026-27 season, which include a new Flex Pass, as well as new options for other passes:
- Flex Pass: the new Flex Pass will replace the Valley Pass and offer four to seven days a week, with advance purchase. No blackout dates, and they don’t have to be used on consecutive days. There will be a limited number of Flex Passes which start at $679
- Weekday Pass: unlimited access Monday through Friday, no blackout dates. Pass holders will have weekend access from opening day to Dec. 13 and again from April 5, 2027, until closing day. Weekday Pass price begins at $2,099
- Alpine 2-Day Pass: allows Pass holders two days of skiing, Monday through Sunday, each week throughout the season, beginning at $2,099
- Premier Pass: Premier Pass starts at $3,099 and comes with an Ikon Base Pass and Uphill Pass, along with many other benefits, including reduced price for family on daily lift tickets and reduced price for lessons
Current Valley Pass holders can get a reduced price for the Flex Pass. The military pass program for the 2026/27 season has been expanded, offering eligible active-duty military members, veterans and retired service members 50 percent off any Pass and lift tickets, this doubles the discount offered in prior season. Community discounts have also been expanded for the 26/27 season to include a $1,000 Premier Pass and a $400 Flex 7-Day Pass available to eligible Roaring Fork Valley teachers. Grade and high school Roaring Fork Valley students and Aspen Valley Ski & Snowboard Club will also receive discounted Pass programs.
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
CITY OF GRAND JUNCTION & MESA COUNTY STILL WORK TO GET 29 ROAD INTERCHANGE
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
The Mesa County commissioners this week unanimously approved a memorandum of understanding with the city of Grand Junction to both provide a local match for federal funds for a federal grant of $2 million to complete the design work of a future interchange on Interstate 70 at 29 Road. The city and county are focused on putting a plan together that could be approved by the Colorado Dept. of Transportation. The proposed design will be split with the south side of Patterson Road having a three-lane street (one lane each way and turning lane); north of Patterson Road, it would be a five-lane leading to the interchange.
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
GJ’S VETERANS MEMORIAL CEMETERY OF WESTERN COLORADO GETS NATIONAL AWARD
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
On Tuesday, the Veterans Memorial Cemetery of Western Colorado in Grand Junction was recognized for its operational excellence in its mission to serve as a dignified final resting place for veterans. Angela Ingalls, the cemetery administrator, accepted the Operational Excellence Award from James Earp, U.S. Dept. of Veteran Affairs National Cemetery Administration during the ceremony at the cemetery. The cemetery is regularly inspected for compliance with national standards for the management and operations of the cemetery. In 2025, a rigorous review, led by an independent team of experts, determined that the Veterans Memorial Cemetery of Western Colorado met or exceeded key targets in management and operational areas and when a cemetery exceeds those standards it is recognized by the National Cemetery Administration. In making the presentation, Earp said, “This is a final resting place, a national shrine, for almost 7,000 veterans and their family members.”
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
WILDFIRE COMMUNITY MEETING IN STEAMBOAT TONIGHT
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
The Routt County Wildfire Mitigation Council, formed in 2019, is comprised of county and city representatives, local state and federal officials, non-governmental organizations, homeowners' associations as well as local businesses and private landowners. The mitigation council will host a public education and outreach presentation at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 9, at Bud Werner Memorial Library in Steamboat Springs. The program is designed for community members to learn more about how to protect their homes and neighborhoods from wildfires this year. The presentation will include a screening of the PBS episode “Weathered: Inside the LA Firestorm,” the award-winning documentary on the 2025 Los Angeles wildfire, as well as discussions about rebates, free programs and solutions available to mitigate wildfire danger in Routt County. Complete information at routtwildfire.org/events.
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
WHAT’S MORE SPRING THAN TULIPS - TULIPS MEAN THE NETHERLANDS
|
| |
|
|
| |
It was an early spring in Colorado, with many locations across the state experiencing warm, spring weather three to four weeks ahead of a “normal” year. The spring brings tulip blooms, and the thought of tulips brings the Netherlands to mind. One of the best sources of information on tulips and tulip season in the Netherlands is Nienke Panis-Ringersma, who produces the popular Dutch-based tulip photography blog, Tulips in Holland (tulipsinholland.com).
Here are her suggestions on where to go and what to see in the tulip season in the Netherlands:
- National Tulip Day: held on the third Saturday in January in Amsterdam, the museum square is filled with 300,000 tulips, and the public can pick bouquets.
- Keukenhof: Panis-Ringersma rates this popular tulip location as “absolutely” number one. The Keukenhof Gardens were established in 1949 and every year around 7 million bulbs are planted by hand. Keukenhof is only open for about two months, from the first day of spring to the first week in May. (keukenhof.nl/en)
- Bloemencorso Flower Parade: There is the Rose Parade on New Year’s Day, the Bloemencorso parade, the third Saturday in April, is also a parade of floats made of flowers. Note, there is also a Night Parade on Friday night in Noordwijkerhout and Sunday the floats are on display in the city of Haarlem. (bloemencorso-bollenstreek.nl/en)
- Hortus Bulborum: For those interested in the history of flowers, more than just tulips, the Hortus Bulborum, is a historical bulb garden in Limmen, with over 4,500 different varieties of tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, crocuses and Fritillarias.
- As to the Netherlands and tulips, the tulip is not native to the Netherlands. they are in fact native to the Himalayas and brought to Turkey in the 1400s. At the end of the 16th Century, they came to the Netherlands. The Hortus Bulborum has an ancient 16th Century Duc van Tol tulip. (hortus-bulborum.nl/en)
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
BRITISH PUBS: LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL, BUT KNOW THE RULES
|
| |
|
|
| |
Many travelers to the U.K. are eager to go and experience a British pub. For the most part, they are as imagined, jam-packed, noisy, no host, no lines and a bit of a wonderment for the newcomer. However, be aware there are well-established, unwritten rules. To avoid offending staff and other patrons and making a scene, here are things to keep in mind:
- Although there seems to be no order, be aware of your order, when you arrived. The bartender is usually keeping track of who arrived when, and so are many of the customers
- Order at the bar, unless someone tells you otherwise
- Buy in rounds, and know when you can opt out
- Be aware of time and know the signals for last orders and leaving time
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
MARKET UPDATE - 04/08/2026 Close
|
| |
|
(Courtesy of Alpine Bank Wealth Management*)
|
| |
|
Canadian dollar (per U.S. dollar)
|
| |
|
|
|
|
Mexican peso (per U.S. dollar)
|
| |
|
|
|
|
30-year fixed mortgage rate (Freddie Mac 04/02/2026)
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
*Not FDIC insured. May lose value. Not guaranteed by the bank.
|
| |
|
| |
Alpine Bank is an independent, employee-owned organization with headquarters in Glenwood Springs and banking offices across Colorado's Western Slope, mountains and Front Range. Alpine Bank serves customers with retail, business, wealth management*, mortgage and electronic banking services. Learn more at alpinebank.com.
*Alpine Bank Wealth Management services are not FDIC insured, may lose value and are not guaranteed by the bank.
|
| |
|
|
| |
| Make changes to your subscription or unsubscribe here. |
| © 2026 Alpine Bank. |
| |
|
|
