HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/03/1995
APRIL 3, 1995
CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION MINUTES
CITY OF WHEAT RIDGE, COLORADO
The City Council Study Session was called to order by Mayor Wilde
at 7 15 P m Councilmembers present Vance Edwards, Donald
Eafanti, Jean D Fields, Ken Siler and Claudia Worth; Absent
Rae Jean Behm and Tony Solano Also present City Clerk, Wanda
Sang; City Administrator; Robert Middaugh; and City Attorney,
Gerald Dahl
Motion by Mrs Fields to suspend the Rules and Procedures to
allow public comment; seconded Mrs Worth; carried 5-0
Item 1
Discussion of JUdges/Municipal Court Pension
Mr Middaugh stated the discussion really concerns the two judges
and two probation staff members to participate in CCOERA, the
City's retirement program, and clarification of the financial,
legal and technical issues
Judge Davis was present and explained his request that the
judges and probation department staff be allowed to benefit and
participate in the City's Retirement Program (CCOERA)
Council discussed and questioned what is the municipal and
associate judges status with the city Are they considered to be
full time employees, part time or contract people Council
requested to have the City Attorney provide information as to
what laws the City operates under as to the pension plan and
eligibility
Consensus was 5-0 to postpone a decision, and have the City staff
provide the statutes and law under which CCOERA pensions are set
up, the requirements for eligibility and participation The City
Attorney research, investigate and provide a legal opinion as to
what the law covers regarding pension plans and participation,
and that each City Councilmember be provided with a copy of the
laws and legal opinion
Item 2. Discussion of Economic Development Plan
Mr Schmitz and Mr Gidley were present, submitted copies of the
City of Wheat Ridge Economic Development Strategic Plan and Wheat
Ridge Economic Development Work Program and Status Report Mr
Gidley explained the process involved in the evolution and
development of the Strategic Plan
Mr Middaugh explained that the plan itself is to be a strategic
document, which means it is to be a working plan He stated the
plan is not something that has to be done only to be put away and
looked at occasionally The Plan is intended to be reviewed
STUDY SESSION MINUTES
APRIL 3, 1995
PAGE 2
periodically, to reflect changes in the economy and policy that
occur within the community It is a document which is to provide
for a vital, healthy tax base in the Wheat Ridge community The
tax base is what the City and citizens rely upon for the
provisions of government services
Mr Schmitz explained the 13 items in the Wheat Ridge Economic
Development Work Program and Status Report
Public Comment
Teri Dalbec, addressed her remarks to the Economic Development
Strategic Plan document, Work Program and Status Report
Dan Ladd, Wheat Ridge Fire Department, spoke and explained his
position on the plan
Walt Petit, Wheat Ridge Water District, stated he is anxious to
hear what the City Council feels regarding the plan because how
Council feels will tell him more about the future direction of
the City
Leo Rainwater, expressed his concerns of the type of people who
will be chosen and appointed to serve on the Steering committee,
and what will be the qualifications to serve on the committee
He feels that there needs to be professional people with
knowledge, experience and backgrounds in contracting,
construction, economics, accounting and with many other technical
skills He proposed a plan how people from each district should
be appointed
Janet Stromberg, stated that she is specifically interested in
the Wadsworth corridor because there are some wonderful
opportunities along the corridor to talk to some of the property
owners, and underscore the private/public cooperation and
partnership that could go into some of the developments, and also
taking a look at active management in a partnership arrangement
She suggested criteria for the committee
Council discussed how the plan will work along with the
Comprehensive Plan, Master Plan and some of the specific
objectives outlined in the plan may have to be fine tuned along
several of the corridors Discussed Urban Renewal Authority and
defining of blight and how that impacts the neighborhoods
surrounding it City should focus on encouraging retail business
and generating sales tax revenue
STUDY SESSION MINUTES
APRIL 3, 1995
PAGE 3
Motion by Mrs Worth that City Council appoint a commitee of
Vance Edwards and Don Eafanti to work with Steven Schmitz to fine
tune the wording in the plan and bring it back to City Council;
seconded Mrs Fields; carried 5-0
Meeting adjourned at 10 09 P m
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Wanda Sang, City~Clerk
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APRIL 3, 1995
~ECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETIN__
CITY OF WHEAT RIDGE, COLORADO
C'Ol.OR"'~O
The City Council Special Meeting was called to order by Mayor Dan
Wilde at 6 59 P m Councilmembers present Vance Edwards,
Donald Eafanti, Jean D Fields, Ken Siler and Claudia Worth;
Absent Rae Jean Behm and Tony Solano Also present City
Clerk, Wanda Sang; and City Administrator; Robert Middaugh
The purpose of the meeting is to appoint an interim City
Attorney
Mr Middaugh stated since the resignation of Mrs Schroeder it is
necessary to appoint an interim attorney in order make sure that
there is legal advice available to the City The Gorsuch Kirgis,
L L C Law Firm have an established municipal law practice,
having represented the City of Lakewood for over a decade, and
Mr Dahl formerly served as the lead Counsel for the Colorado
Municipal League
Mr Dahl gave a brief background of his knowledge and experience
in municipal law and land use work
Motion by Mr Edwards to appoint the firm of Gorsuch Kirgis
L L C and Gerald E Dahl as acting City Attorney; seconded Mrs
Fields; carried 5-0
Mr Edwards referred to the negotiations on the Richter property
He stated Mrs Schroeder is continuing to go ahead with
negotiations and requested to have Mr Dahl look at the
negotiations and come back to Council with recommendations
Motion by Mr Edwards that Mr Dahl have the direction to look at
the negotiations regarding the Richter property and come back to
City Council with advice and suggestions, seconded Mrs Fields;
carried 5-0
Meeting adjourned at 7 14 P m
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Wanda Sang,
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Ci ty c:t"eh
APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL APRIL 10, 1995 BY A VOTE OF 7
TO 0
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Tony SOlho,
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Council President
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