City Council

Trinidad has a Council/Manager form of government. The City is governed by an elected Mayor with two-year terms, and a six member City Council who serve four-year, staggered terms. All governing body members are elected at-large on a nonpartisan ballot. The next election is November, 2023, when the Mayoral seat and three Council seats will be on the ballot. Once City Council provides the general direction and goals for planning purposes, the task of directing resources and activities to achieve those goals falls to the City Manager as the Chief Executive Officer of the City.

It is the responsibility of the City Manager to carry out the mandates and enforce the policies set by the Council within the budget established by Council. The City Manager has a dedicated staff to assist with fulfilling these duties. City staff is arranged into thirteen departments: Administration & Legal, Public Works, Police, Fire, Sports & Recreation, Library Services, Development Services, Economic Development, Finance, Landfill, Water, Gas and Power & Light. Each department is run by a knowledgeable and dedicated department head and these department heads comprise the City's management team.

The City’s projected 2022 budget for total expenditures and other uses is just under $57M with municipal services provided by 160 FTE's.

Mayor:  

  • Mayor Phil Rico (Term expires first meeting in January, 2024 - last term)
Council Members:  

  • Councilmember Eli DeBono (Term expires first meeting in January, 2026)
  • Councilmember Naemon Thurman (Term expires first meeting in January, 2026)
  • Councilmember Franklin Shew (Term expires first meeting in January, 2024)
  • Councilmember Erin Ogletree (Term expires first meeting in January, 2024)
  • Councilmember Karen Griego (Term expires first meeting in January, 2026)
  • Councilmember Aaron Williamson (Term expires first meeting in January, 2024)
City Council meetings are held every 1st & 3rd Tuesday at 6:00pm. All meetings are held in the Council Chambers on the 3rd floor of City Hall at 135 North Animas and via Zoom. See the meetings tab for Zoom access. 

For more information including archived agendas and minutes, contact Audra Garrett, City Clerk, at 719-846-9843 ext 135.