Steamboat Springs — The Steamboat Springs City Council’s first meeting of 2015 is going to be a blockbuster.

On the same evening, the council will discuss the future of a hotel that has become a financial burden for the city, discuss the conceptual design and possible building locations for a new police station and decide whether or not Steamboat residents should all have to use bear-proof trash containers outdoors.

The council also is scheduled to get an update from city staff on sustainability-related efforts.

Tuesday night will be the first time the council has discussed the police station project in several weeks.

The discussion comes after a previous agenda item to discuss the station and building locations was postponed because Yampa Valley Medical Center pulled out of real estate talks regarding one of the council’s three top building sites.

According to a presentation city staff will give on the station, the conceptual design for the proposed facility now totals 15,058 square feet, down from the 18,000-square-foot station originally proposed by city staff.

The city estimates the station will cost $8.1 million to build, which is less than the $9.7 million the city was requesting for the larger station.

The downsizing of the station comes after several council members expressed concern about the project’s potential cost.

The conceptual design and more information about the station can be viewed below this story.

After the public presentation on the station’s design, the council will meet in executive session to discuss possible building sites for the station.

Also on Tuesday, the council will decide whether to give final approval to tougher trash rules that would require all residents to use wildlife-resistant trash containers outdoors. The ordinance would take effect April 1.

Local trash customers likely would have to pay between $200 and $350 for an acceptable wildlife-resistant trash container, depending on the size.

Included in Tuesday’s council packet are four letters from residents supporting the tougher rules that aim to reduce wildlife conflicts in the city.

“By following the proposed rules set forth by the Colorado Parks and Wildlife, our trash haulers, and city representatives, we will markedly decrease the bear issues for the safety of the bears, and the safety of our citizens,” Marilyn and Mark McCaulley wrote the council. “Our beautiful mountain town should not be littered with trash because we do not have appropriate receptacles and policies. The related costs are a small price to pay.”

The council also received a letter from local trash hauler Twin Enviro Services.

The company is asking the council to delay the second reading of the ordinance because it does not “believe the residential community (has) been adequately informed about the ordinance and its effect on them” and trash haulers, among other reasons.

Company representatives added the “proposed ordinance does not address the root cause of the bear problem: food waist in odorous outdoor containers.”

The council voted 6-1 last month to approve the first reading of the tougher trash rules.

Walter Magill was the only member to oppose them, saying he felt the rules would be “too expensive for too many people.”

The full council agenda can be viewed here.

To reach Scott Franz, call 970-871-4210, email scottfranz@SteamboatToday.com or follow him on Twitter @ScottFranz10