Trinidad seeks residents for boards shaping downtown and services

Trinidad City Council is accepting Citizen Interest Forms from qualified residents to fill vacancies on a range of city boards and commissions, giving locals a direct role in planning, preservation and public services.

Current vacancies include two positions on the Historic Preservation Commission; up to three positions and two alternates on the Board of Building Code Appeals; up to four openings on the Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee; two seats on the Urban Renewal Authority; one seat on the Lodging Tax Advisory Board; two seats on the Corazon de Trinidad Historic Main Street Board; one seat on the Planning, Zoning & Variance Commission; and one position on the Housing Authority of the City of Trinidad. These bodies influence decisions from downtown revitalization and tourism funding to building safety, park amenities and housing policy.

Applicants must be registered voters who have lived in the City of Trinidad or Las Animas County for at least one year prior to appointment, as applicable. Citizen Interest Forms must be received by 12:00 p.m. on February 2, 2026. Submit forms to the City Clerk’s Office at City Hall, 135 N. Animas Street, or mail them to P.O. Box 880, Trinidad, CO 81082. For questions or to confirm requirements, call the City Clerk’s Office at 719-846-9843.

For residents, serving on a board or commission is more than a line on a résumé; it is a chance to shape how Trinidad adapts to growth, conserves its built heritage and allocates resources from lodging taxes to park projects. The Historic Preservation Commission and the Corazon de Trinidad board have particular influence over downtown character and local heritage, while the Urban Renewal Authority and Planning, Zoning & Variance Commission help guide development and reuse of key parcels. Building code appeals weigh on construction safety and compliance, and the Housing Authority role touches affordable housing and renter protections.

Filling these seats also strengthens local democracy. Boards and commissions bring neighborhood perspectives into formal decision-making, often at early stages when policy and project design can still be shaped. For a small city like Trinidad, appointments can shift priorities on everything from trail connections and park programming to historic signage and short-term rental oversight.

Our two cents? If you’re eligible and care about downtown, parks, housing or historic downtown life, call 719-846-9843, verify your voter registration and residency, and get your form in early to the City Clerk’s Office at 135 N. Animas Street or P.O. Box 880. Serving is a practical way to make your concerns matter where local decisions are made.