The Steamboat Springs City Council welcomed new and returning members Tuesday night, as departing President Gail Garey reflected on two years leading the council through major accomplishments in housing, senior care, climate action and regional collaboration. 

Tuesday’s regular meeting also saw Councilor Steve Muntean unanimously elected the new council president, with Garey unanimously chosen as president pro-tem. 

The transition followed the departure of councilors Joella West and Dakotah McGinlay, who were honored for their service as they stepped down from districts 2 and 3, respectively.​

“You have both been so resolute in your commitment to our community,” Garey said of West and McGinlay. “Your diverse perspectives, your backgrounds, your areas of expertise, your lived experiences and your leadership styles have been invaluable to this council.” 

City Clerk Julie Franklin opened the session by administering oaths to Dave Barnes, who now occupies the at-large council seat; John Agosta, representing District 3; Garey, returning as District 1 councilor; and Muntean, who, after a term representing the at-large district, now represents District 2. 

Garey reflects on tenure leading council

Garey emphasized the “extraordinary honor” of serving as council president over the past two years, underscoring a culture of collaboration among councilors and an agenda shaped by diverse perspectives. 

“Together, we have faced big challenges, we have made difficult decisions, and we have delivered real results for our community,” said Garey. “This council has much to be proud of.”

Chief among the “proudest achievements” Garey mentioned was council’s role in the saving of Casey’s Pond — Steamboat’s sole senior living facility, which had been at risk of closure — as well as the use of short-term rental tax revenues to support affordable housing initiatives. 

“By leveraging the short-term rental tax and partnering with the Yampa Valley Community Foundation and Northwest Colorado Health, as well as numerous community members, we secured a path forward, and we ensured that our seniors could stay in the valley that we call home,” Garey said of Casey’s Pond.

“We advanced a comprehensive housing strategy backed by real action,” Garey continued. “We dedicated staff, we adopted a clear strategy and action plan, and we made meaningful progress, including using the STR revenues to reduce the prices of the 86 deed-restricted homes at The Cottonwoods into the range of the $200k-400k for each of the units, creating the first new deed-restricted units for for-sale workforce housing in nearly 20 years.” 

Garey also highlighted the use of STR funds to make local workforce housing more affordable at The Lofts at Base Camp and Riverview (Apartments), directly addressing Steamboat’s pressing affordability crisis.​

“We led by example on climate action,” said Garey. “We adopted a facilities master plan that puts us on a measurable path toward electrification and decarbonization of city buildings and operations.”

On environmental leadership, the council adopted a facilities master plan that puts the city “on a measurable path toward electrification and decarbonization,” added Garey.

Garey further highlighted how the council helped forge the Yampa Valley’s first-ever Regional Transportation Authority, partnering with Routt County and the outlying municipalities, “an initiative that will shape mobility and economic opportunity for decades.” 

Leadership transition

With the seating of the new council, Garey announced she would not seek another term as president. 

“This is a collaborative body. All seven of us are leaders, and each deserves an opportunity to help guide the council’s work,” she said, expressing her ongoing commitment to supporting Steamboat Springs as a council member.

Nominations for the next president opened, with Garey nominating Muntean. No other nominations followed. 

Muntean accepted, and council unanimously elected him president.

Muntean expressed gratitude for Garey’s leadership and reaffirmed his dedication to transparency, teamwork and community-centered decision-making. 

“I really haven’t met anyone who is as dedicated and committed as Gail (Garey) is. This is a hard job,” he said. “This is a very long job in terms of hours, and all the things you have to put up with and your commitment to the community never wavers … I just really appreciate the fact that you embrace all the challenges and all the opportunities, so thank you for what you’ve done.” 

“I really appreciate the opportunity to be the president of council, and I’m going to work very closely with everyone on this dais, as well as everyone in this city and in the community, to make sure we continue to move this community forward,” said Muntean of his election as president.

“I think the talent we have on this City Council, the unique abilities of everyone, the passion that everyone has — we all do this for one reason, and that reason is for the community, to make the community better off,” he continued.

Following Muntean’s remarks, nominations opened for president pro-tem. Councilor Bryan Swintek nominated Garey, who accepted.

Councilor Barnes nominated Councilor Michael Buccino, but Buccino declined “under the circumstances” without further elaboration.

Garey was unanimously voted as pro-tem, stating that she “would be honored to serve council in that capacity.”