HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-04-2008
STUDY SESSION NOTES
CITY OF WHEAT RIDGE, COLORADO
Februarv 4. 2008
Mayor DiTullio called the Study Session to order at 6:30p.m. Council Members
present: Karen Adams, Tracy Langworthy, Mike Stites, Wanda Sang, Lena
Rotola and Terry Womble. Also present: City Clerk, Michael Snow; City
Treasurer, Larry Schulz; City Manager, Randy Young; Community Development
Director, Kenneth Johnstone; Deputy City Manager, Patrick Goff; Director of
Public Works, Tim Paranto; Parks & Recreation Director, Joyce Manwaring;
Public Information Officer, Heather Geyer; and Senior Planner, Sally Payne; and
interested citizens.
Council Member Karen Berry arrived at 6:43pm.
Council Member Dean Gokey was absent due to illness.
Item 1.. RTD - FasTracks Gold Line Update
Liz Telford, RTD Gold Line Project Manager and Don Ulrich, CH2M Hill Project
Engineer, provided Council an update on the purposes, goals and Issues
currently affecting the Gold Line development. Delays are currently expected
due to negotiations with the Railroad companies on the Right-of-Way between
"Denver's Union Station and 1-76. The EIS release, has been postponed because
there may be slight changes to where the tracks run through this section.
Item 2.
Staff Reports
a. Kipling Street Entry Sign Landscaping
Mr. Paranto reviewed staffs proposed designs for City of Wheat Ridge signage
at the intersection of 1-70 & Kipling. The City Council budgeted $400,000 in the
2008 budget for these improvements. Mr. Paranto proposed to Council a plan to
develop a single large sign at the Southwest corner of the intersection, and to
save the remaining money budgeted for similar landscaping at the other three
corners of the intersection. The City's Parks & Recreation department will
maintain the landscaping in the area.
Mrs. Sang asked Council for consensus to support the City Staff in moving
forward with the proposed designs and plan for signage; consensus was 7-0 in
favor.
STUDY SESSION NOTES: February 4, 2008
Page 2
b. Storm Drainage Projects
Mr. Paranto explained to Council that a timely opportunity is presented for
acquiring funding grants in the amount of approximately $425,000 for drainage
improvements within the City. These funding monies would require equal
matching funds provided by the City of Wheat Ridge. Mr. Paranto provided
staff's recommendations on which drainage projects to address if Council
decides to fund drainage projects at this time.
Mr. Paranto further described opportunities for obtaining FEMA grants for the
drainage improvements in the Clearvale Subdivision (see 2008 drainage
improvements map) using potential FEMA grants.
The recommended drainage improvements included the Arvada Channel (Item 8
in the staff memo), and the Lena Gulch project (Item 7 in the memo). Mr.
Paranto explained that one of the two homes that would require purchase and
demolition by the City in the Lena Gulch project is currently for sale. Mr. Paranto
recommended, if the City plans to pursue this particular project, to consider
buying this property now, while the home is for sale and housing prices are
depressed.
Ms. Berry asked Council for consensus to direct Staff to proceed in bringing forth
the three proposals for drainage infrastructure improvements recommended by
Staff and the necessary budget amendments to City Council for consideration;
consensus was 6-1 in favor with Mr. Womble indicating No because of an
objection to move forward with recommendation number 3, the Clear Creek at
Clearvale Subdivision improvements.
c. Bail Bonds Regulation Options
Mr. Dahl reviewed his findings with respect to Bail Bond business regulations in
other municipalities. Findings were such that no other Colorado municipalities
have regulations on such businesses. Mr. Dahl reviewed the benefits and
challenges of the three possible regulation alternatives outlined in this packet,
with Staffs recommendations.
Ms. Berry asked for consensus to move forward in considering option 1 and
option 2; consensus was 7-0 in favor.
d. Master Plan Design Process - 38th & Kipling Park
Mrs. Manwaring presented Council a review of the process and schedule the City
would follow in considering the development of the City's park space at 38th
Avenue and Kipling St.
STUDY SESSION NOTES: February 4, 2008
Page 3
Item 3. 2008 Ballot Questions
a. Infrastructure Bonding Projects
Mr. DiTullio led a discussion on the proposed funding referenda suggested in his
memo to Council dated 11/29/2007 (included in this packet).
On the Local Drainage mill levy funding proposal, Council discussed whether to
sunset the property tax increase after the drainage project funding is completed;
the need to determine a more specific amount needed to fund such projects
before putting a bonding issue before voters; and how to present this proposal to
voters.
Ms. Berry asked Council for consensus to direct staff to study how best to
present Ballot Question #1, a mill levy increase to provide funding for drainage
infrastructure projects; consensus was 7-0 in favor.
On the 38th Avenue Reconstruction funding proposal, Council discussed the
proposed sales tax increase; whether to omit any sunset of the increase; and
whether to include the 38th Avenue streetscape as part of the proposed funding
plan.
Mr. Paranto recommended Council postpone making any decisions as to the
inclusion of 38th Avenue streetscape projects in the ballot question until Council
has had the discussion on the 38th Avenue On-Street Parking concepts in Item 4
of tonight's agenda.
Mrs. Sang asked for consensus to support Item 2 less the 38th Avenue
streetscape project and to sunset the proposed tax increase; consensus vote
was tabled until discussion of the 38th Avenue On-street Parking topic.
Mrs. Manwaring led a discussion with Council on the issues and concepts around
the proposed Recreation Center expansion; Mrs. Manwaring explained that
further study and funding would be required to determine a dollar amount for the
expansion that was accurate enough to put to a ballot question. Mrs. Manwaring
indicated $60,000-$100,000 would be required to complete the study determining
the scope of the Rec Center expansion.
Questions arose regarding the inclusion of the Baugh House. There was
concern for such a large amount of funding for what some Council members
consider should be a Historical Society project. Mayor DiTullio explained that
this funding is for the acquisition of the property between the Baugh House and
Prospect Park and not just for the renovation of the Baugh House.
STUDY SESSION NOTES: February 4, 2008
Page 4
Ms. Berry asked Council for consensus to move forward with Ballot Item #3 to
direct staff to complete the study in determining financial impacts of the project;
consensus was 5-2 with Council Members Womble and Langworthy indicating
No.
Mayor DiTullio asked Council to modify the agenda to hear the 38th Avenue On-
street Parking concepts issue, Item 4, while Council is considering the 38th
Avenue streetscape project; Council agreed.
Item 4.
Parking Concepts - 38th Avenue
Mr. Johnstone and Mr. Paranto reviewed the findings provided in the study
commissioned by Wheat Ridge 2020 (included in this packet); Staff does not
recommend considering on-street parking, but rather to consider sub-area
planning.
Council discussed whether streetscape improvements should be considered and
pursued or postponed to further consider on-street parking concepts for the area.
Ms. Berry asked for consensus to support staff's recommendation on page 6 of
the memo to defer implementation of any additional on-street parking and to
move forward with considerations to amend Zoning Code to allow more creative
parking solutions and to develop a Market-based Subarea Plan for the 38th
Avenue corridor; consensus was 7-0 in favor.
Mrs. Sang asked again for consensus to move forward with Ballot Question #2
minus the 38th Avenue streetscape project; consensus failed 4-3 with Council
Members Rotola, Berry, Langworthy and Womble indicating No.
Mr. Womble asked Council to move forward with Ballot Question #2 as proposed,
with a provision to sunset the funding upon completion; consensus was 5-2 in
favor with Council Members Langworthy and Sang indicating No.
Mayor DiTullio called for a break at 8:50pm; resuming at 8:58pm.
Item 3.
b. Potential Charter Amendments
Mrs. Payne provided Council a review of staff's recommendations for changes to
the City's Home Rule Charter for location-specific support of the Northwest
Transit Oriented Development Plan and other areas along the 1-70 Corridor.
STUDY SESSION NOTES: February 4, 2008
Page 5
Handouts were provided showing some visual concepts for the high-density type
developments common for TOD (included in this packet). Mrs. Payne explained
that potential developers that have looked at the transit areas in consideration of
future development are no longer interested because of the height and density
restrictions in the City's Charter. At this time, staff is not recommending any
specific height or density limit amount for the individual areas in consideration,
but included information on limits designated in similar TOD's in neighboring
municipalities.
Mr. Johnstone expressed that he doesn't feel that height and density limits
belong in the Charter at all, but instead would be better addressed in individual
zoning limits; Mr. Johnstone also proposed that Council discuss and consider the
process the City should follow to inform the public about the issues around these
proposed Charter Changes.
Tom Slattery spoke to Council regarding the charter changes. His comments
included, but were not limited to: he is not convinced that Charter changes or the
increase or elimination of the height and density limits would necessarily bring
more interest for development; there is plenty of time for Council and the City to
see what happens along the Gold Line after it's completed, to consider what
changes are really needed and necessary; The Charter limits were passed by
overwhelming majority votes of the citizens; there is nothing inappropriate in the
City's Charter - it is a document that belongs to the citizens of the City, not the
staff and not the Council. It should be honored and respected as such; he does
not believe that the amount of high-density development planned in the Denver
Metro area can be achieved, if only for the presence of serious water shortages
and the serious challenges of the cities to provide other infrastructure for these
developments - sewers, bridges and highways are aging and failing; the long-
term market is in crisis and is unsure of future prosperity; the Cabela's
development is now on hold; our current zoning codes weren't a hindrance to
Cabela's interest in the area - why should it be for other developments?
Council discussed the need for WR to do its part in addressing the need for
higher density development to mitigate the urban sprawl; whether height
increases in Cabela's commercial district might be risky to the skyline and views
through the Greenbelt area; why Wheat Ridge doesn't have some of the things
that the surrounding communities have; whether the H&D limits in the Charter
should be there at all.
Council discussed the need for a plan to inform the community of the concepts
and issues behind the apparent need for these Charter changes.
Mr. Stites asked for consensus to allow staff to consider larger big-box store
concepts in the Northwest TOD; consensus was 7-0 in favor.
STUDY SESSION NOTES: February 4, 2008
Page 6
Mayor DiTullio suggested that Council make a consensus vote to indicate their
support of an increase in each of individual sites considered in the proposed
height and density Charter Change map (included in this packet):
For the 1-70 & Kipling area, consensus was 7-0 in favor;
For the Northwest TOD, consensus was 7-0 in favor;
For the Cabela's site west of 1-70, to consider further studies of the impact of
height changes; 7-0 in favor;
For the Wadsworth Corridor, 1-70 to 38th Avenue, consensus failed 3-4 with
Council Members Sang, Adams and Rotola indicating Yes.
For 38th Avenue, Sheridan to Wadsworth, consensus failed 2-5 with Council
Members Adams and Rotola indicating Yes.
For the 44th & Wads intersection only, consensus failed 3-4 with Council
Members Sang, Adams and Rotola indicating Yes.
Council was asked for their consensus in favor of a 65 ft and 60 units/acre limit
for all proposed areas; consensus was 5-2 in favor with Council Members
Langworthy and Womble indicating No.
Mrs. Sang handed out materials given at the Wheat Ridge 2020 hearing
(included in this packet).
Mr. Youn~ mentioned several Council Members would not be attending the
March 11 City Council meeting and there was a potential need to cancel the
meeting if it lacks quorum.
Meeting adjourned at 9:52pm
~
Michael Snow, City Clerk