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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-17-2008STUDY SESSION NOTES CITY COUNCIL MEETING CITY OF WHEAT RIDGE, COLORADO City Council Chambers 7500 W. 29th Ave. November 17, 2008 Mayor Jerry DiTullio called the Study Session to order at 6:30p.m. Council Members present: Karen Adams, Karen Berry, Wanda Sang, Dean Gokey, Terry Womble, Mike Stites, Tracy Langworthy, and Lena Rotola. Also present: City Clerk, Michael Snow; City Treasurer, Larry Schulz; City Manager, Randy Young; Deputy City Manager, Patrick Goff; Community Development Director, Kenneth Johnstone; Parks and Recreation Director, Joyce Manwaring; Assistant to the City Manager, Heather Geyer; Police Chief, Dan Brennan; and interested citizens. Mr. Womble asked to pull Item 3 from the Agenda. Mr. Womble was the only member of the Council to support pulling the Item. Mrs. Berry asked Council to consider first discussing the agenda items that are of particular interest to the many citizens attending the meeting. Item 1. Staff Reports Chief Brennan advised the Council of a Sexually Violent Predator moving to the City. A Community Information Meeting is to be held November 20, 2008, 7-8pm at Glory of God Church, 12200 W. 38th. Avenue. The Police Department has advised neighbors and schools in the area and has posted a slide on Channel 8 with information on the Information Meeting. All citizens are invited to attend. Mrs. Manwaring informed Council she is working with Jeffco Open Space on an agreement for maintenance of a portion of the Clear Creek Trail that enters the City of Wheat Ridge in the newly annexed areas. She will also be submitting an application for the Annual Jeffco Open Space Grant. A Resolution will be brought before Council on November 24"' to approve the submission of the application. Mr. Johnstone provided Council a status of Zoning Code Amendment efforts. Item 2. Outside Agency Reports. Mr. Gokey expressed that he would like Council to consider Budget Oversight Committee and that he intends to bring the topic before Council at some time. Mr. Gokey asked Council for their consensus to support an appropriation of $100k from the CDBG funds to donate to the Jeffco Housing Authority; support was 5-3 with Council Members Gokey, Womble, Sang, Langworthy and Stites indicating they would support the appropriation. CITY COUNCIL AGENDA: June 25, 2007 Page -2- Item 3. Debrief of Wheat Ridge 2008 Special Election. Josh Magden of George K. Baum, Inc. provided Council an analysis of the November 4"', 2008 Election Results on referred Wheat Ridge Ballot Measures 2A, 2B & 2C. Item 4. Parks and Recreation Department Organizational Structure Assessment. Steve Egan from The Mercer Group, Inc. was present to provide Council a summary of findings and recommendations in the Assessment. The following were the key recommendations made by the firm: 1. Create a separate division for Facility/Building Management 2. Add a Management Analyst position to assist the management team to optimize operations. 3. Expand the Greenbelt Trail system, especially North and South, to connect and complete them throughout the community 4. Strengthen Boards and Commissions roles, responsibilities and operations to improve their contribution to the Parks & Recreations services. 5. Upgrade Parks Division Facilities to alleviate cramped and inadequate space and features Mayor DiTullio called for a break at 7:34; the meeting resumed at 7:41. CITY COUNCIL AGENDA: June 25, 2007 Item 5. 2009 Proposed Budget. Page -3- Mr. Young and staff led a discussion with Council and citizens attending the meeting on the measures taken to balance the 2009 Proposed Budget. City Directors were asked to eliminate non-essential expenses from the budget without cutting staffing levels. Mr. Young summarized the main expenses cut to reach the proposed balanced budget. Denise Waddell and Kevin Hood spoke on behalf of Wheat Ridge 2020 and the importance of the City continuing to maintain a commitment to the City's revitalization through the funding of the organization. Gretchen Cerveny spoke about the importance of continuing the effort to build on the City's Economic Development reputation in the Metro area by continuing the funding of Wheat Ridge 2020. Kim Calomino contended that if the Council does not invest in our future by supporting Wheat Ridge 2020 efforts now, we'll miss the benefits when the economy recovers. She believes that Wheat Ridge 2020's programs give the City the biggest bang for the buck and that if the City only moves around the issues, we'll never resolve them. Curtis Gilmore shared his experience of living in Wheat Ridge for over 40 years and watching it slowly degrade over the years. Among other suggestions, he urged the Council to focus efforts and funding on programs that will increase the value of residential housing. Mrs. Berry asked Council for a consensus to support the budget as proposed; support was 4-4, with Council Members Berry, Adams, Rotola and Langworthy indicating a Yes; the Mayor indicated he would break a tie against the current proposed budget. Mr. Goff informed the Council that the City is required by law to set the budget by December 15th. Mrs. Berry asked Council for a consensus to support the budget as presented and look at additional Wheat Ridge 2020 funding after year end 2008; Council support was 5-3 with Council Members Sang, Stites and Womble indicating No. Mayor DiTullio adjourned the meeting at 8:51 pm. Michael Snow, City Clerk