The Durango City Council will choose a new mayor on April 21, as councilors are set to elect the next leader of the five-member body during their regular meeting. Mayor Gilda Yazzie’s one-year term is ending, and council members will also vote for a new mayor pro tem, a position currently held by Dave Woodruff.
The selection of the mayor is an annual process among council members. The city charter states that the council must select one of its own as mayor each year but does not specify how this decision should be made. The role of mayor involves presiding over meetings and representing the city government but does not include administrative duties or veto power. All City Council members serve at large rather than representing specific wards or precincts.
At Tuesday’s meeting, which begins at 5:30 p.m. in council chambers at 949 East Second Ave., several other agenda items will be considered. These include voting on whether to enter an executive session for legal advice regarding a citizen-led initiative about law enforcement officers’ identification requirements; ratifying a Stage 1 Water Shortage/Drought declaration prompted by low snowpack and water levels; amending land use codes to comply with Proposition 123’s fast-track review for affordable housing projects; updating parking ordinances related to recreational vehicles and trailers; and discussing next steps on another citizen-led initiative that has met petition requirements.
Proposition 123 is cited as an important funding source for affordable housing initiatives in Durango, with state incentives available if cities adopt fast-track approval processes before June 30 ahead of mandatory compliance starting Jan. 1, 2027.
The City encourages public engagement through its Engage Durango page and offers updates via Notify Me for those interested in receiving news releases.
