HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/06/1992
CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION MINUTES
CITY OF WHEAT RIDGE, COLORADO
APRIL 6, 1992
The City Council Study Session Meeting was called to order by the Mayor
at 7 30 p m Councilmembers present Elise Brougham, Kent Davis, Don
Eafanti, Phil Edwar~s, Vance Edwards, Tony FIasco, Ron Selstad, and Bill
Shanley Also present City Clerk, Wanda Sang, City Administrator,
Robert Middaugh, City Attorney, John Hayes, City Treasurer, Jim Malone,
staff, and interested citizens
Item
Finance Committee Progress Report
Jean Fields, representing the Citizens Finance Committee, gave a
presentation on a tax increase for the remodeling and expansion ot the
Wheat Ridge Municipal building and police facility, and the construction
of a new recreation center This could be accomplished through a 1/2%
tax increase per project, totaling 1%, which would sunset in 6 years
She recommended that these projects be placed on the ballot separately,
so if one failed, the other project woulrl still be viable The
recommended target date for the special election wuuld be September 1,
1992 Jean stated that $3,000,000 can be raised per year with the tax
increase
Phil Edwards asked for a discussion on sunsetting just half of the tax
increase, to allow maintenance and upkeep on both buildings Mayor
Winger aske~ whether it would be feasible to have a third question on
the ballot stating whether the citizens would approve retaining 1/2% for
maintenance of these buildings
Mr Shanley asked for a consensus that the rouncil allow the voters of
Wheat Ridge to vote on whether or not we should have a total of a 1%
sales tax increase The first priority in question form should refer to
an expansion of the municipal building The second part of the question
should refer to the building of a new recreational center The third
question should be a retention of 1/2% at the end of the sixth year In
other words, 1% woul d be use:J at one time for expansion of the municpal
building When that is completed, then the 1% would be used for the
building of the rec center
Mr Selstad did not agree, stating that the rity only has one chance to
get this passed, and felt it would be better to separate these two
projects
Mr Shanley t'1ell a'3ked for a new con'3ensus to bring bot'1 options in
front of Council during regular session, so that they can vote on it
Mrs Brougham asked to a~end the consensus to accept the Finance
Committee's report an:J proceed on April 20th when more data will be
gathered Mr Shanley reiterated that the consensus simply allows the
Council to vote on whether to put both projects together on the ballot
or to split them up and whether this option will be put to t'1e voters as
soon as possible Consensus was 8-0 in favor
CITY COUN~IL STUDY SESSION MINUTES
April b, 1992
Page -2-
Mr Davis statei t~at he votei for this strictly to bring it to
Council He does not endorse it
Mr FIasco also asked to have the same statement put in the record for
him
MaYJr Winger askei for a consenus to have a study session meeting on
April 20th to iiscuss the municipal building expansion and to discuss
the swimming pool on May 4th Consensus was 6-2 in favor
Item 2
Inter-relationship between City Arlministrator and Council
Mr Middaugh stated he felt it extremely important that he should have
some sort of relationship with Council He explained some concerns ani
issues that he has He felt it important that he communicate to staff
some of the problems that rouncil faces He felt that ~is role,
generally speaking, is to help Council in terms of providing information
and support in a timely fashion in orier for Council to get their job
done He will be very forthcoming with information, however, some
information can not be disclosed publicly Mr Middaugh saii that he
will try to inform Council of all things he is involvei with, on a
regular basis, and to clue them in to prujects that the City is engaged
in One such project is relative to a hazardous waste material facility
in the County
He also encouragei Council to let him know as soon as possible if there
is a problem, and not to wait He said t~at he does not want Council to
hear something first from a newspaper or other source but rather, this
information shoulrl come from him He stated that he will be the primary
staff focus in making presentations to rouncil He will supply a cover
memorandum with a recommendation on agenda items, and then it will be up
to rouncil to make the decision on what to do witl1 that item
Mr Middaugh also statei that ~e would appreciate knowing prior to a
council meeting if a councilmember has a question pertaining to that
meeting He feels t~at he can give more accurate information if he is
notified aheai of time, rather than being askei at the meeting
Outside of council meetings, the way to deal with communications and
requests, is to use the chain of command that exists In that way, all
the right people are informei ani things tend to run more smoothly
rouncil certainly shouli feel welcomed to contact the department heads
directly, however, the department heads have been informed to fill him
in on anything of importance
Council asked Mr Middaugh if he can use the form that enables using a
written response This form is in triplicate, has been usei in the past,
and has proved to be beneficial Mr Middaugh thought this was a good
idea and agreed to it
CITY (OUN(IL STUDf SESSION MINUTES
April 6, 1992
Page -3-
Mr~ Broughalo a~k~1 that a policy b~ institut~1 to have a con~i~tency in
honoring past m~mbers of the commission~ an~ boar1s Mr Fla~co ~tate1
that simply b~cau~e a per~on ha~ ~p~nt a long time on a boarj or
commi~sion, ioe~ not m~an that they nece~sarily have contribute1 more
than someone who ha~ ~pent a lesser amount of time on a boar1 or
commi~~ion It i~ the quality of that time, not the length of time
Mr Shanley agree1 with Mr Fla~co ani ad1e1 that it i~ more of a
subjective thing anrl a policy ~houlrl not be in~titute1, as ther~ is no
sure rul~ of thumb Mayor Wing~r agree1
M~eting a1journerl at 9 45 P M
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Wan,1a Sang,
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