HomeMy WebLinkAboutStudy Session Agenda Packet 06-21-21STUDY SESSION AGENDA
CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF WHEAT RIDGE, COLORADO
June 21, 2021 6:30 p.m.
This meeting will be conducted as a virtual meeting and in person at 7500 West 29th Avenue, Municipal Building, if allowed to meet on that date per COVID-19 restrictions. Some members of City Council or City staff will be physically present at the Municipal building for this meeting. The public may participate in these ways: 1. Provide comment in advance at www.wheatridgespeaks.org (comment by noon on June 21, 2021)
2. Virtually attend and participate in the meeting through a device or phone:
• Click here to join and provide public comment
• Or call +1-669-900-6833 with Access Code: 865 8470 7866 Passcode: 925354
3. View the meeting live or later at www.wheatridgespeaks.org, Channel 8, or YouTube Live at https://www.ci.wheatridge.co.us/view
Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to participate in all public meetings sponsored
by the City of Wheat Ridge. Those requiring assistance, ASL or translation service for languages other than English are asked to contact the Public Information Officer at 303-
235-2877 or wrpio@ci.wheatridge.co.us with as much notice as possible.
Public Comment on Agenda Items
1. Jefferson County Multi-Hazard Plan presentation
2. Strategic Priority – Review vision/mission/funding for Localworks
3. Overview of Relationship Based Policing
4. Staff Report(s)
5. Elected Officials’ Report(s)
ADJOURNMENT
1
Memorandum
TO: Mayor and City Council
THROUGH: Kenneth Johnstone, Community Development Director Patrick Goff, City Manager
FROM: Mark Westberg, Projects Supervisor
DATE: June 11, 2021 (for June 21 study session)
SUBJECT: Jefferson County Multi-Hazard Plan Update
ISSUE: Natural hazards in Jefferson County and the City of Wheat Ridge have historically caused significant disasters resulting in damage to property and natural resources, and in some instances,
loss of life. Undertaking hazard mitigation actions in accordance with an adopted and updated plan will reduce the potential for harm to people and property from future hazard occurrences.
Council adopted the current Jefferson County Multi-hazard Mitigation Plan on August 22, 2016. The Federal Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 requires an adopted natural hazard mitigation plan be updated every five years as a condition of future funding for mitigation projects under Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) pre- and post-disaster mitigation grant programs. The City of Wheat Ridge has fully participated in the FEMA-prescribed mitigation planning process to help prepare this update to the 2016 Jefferson County Multi-hazard Mitigation Plan.
The Community Rating System (CRS) is a voluntary incentive program managed by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The CRS program recognizes and encourages
floodplain management that exceeds minimum NFIP standards and in turn provides discounted flood insurance rates to the community. An up-to-date and adopted hazard mitigation plan is an essential component of the City’s CRS program.
BACKGROUND: Mitigation planning begins with the identification of the natural hazards that may impact a
community. Once these hazards have been identified, a risk assessment is conducted to identify the geographical areas that are impacted by the hazard. The information from the risk assessment identifies areas of vulnerability in a community, from within and around the jurisdiction. The plan may then be used to assist in implementing future projects that will reduce the impact of these hazards on the community. The plan will need to be updated again in 2026.
The public comment period for this update ends on June 25, 2021. A virtual public meeting forum is located at: https://www.jeffco.us/4319/HMPC-Virtual-Public-Meeting-Forum. After public comments are incorporated, the plan will then be reviewed by the Colorado Office of Emergency Management (COOEM) and FEMA from July through September with approval expected in October. The final plan will be brought back to Council in November for adoption.
Item No. 1
The cover, table of contents, and introduction of the plan are included as Attachment 1, the full plan is almost 300 pages. Annex E, Attachment 2, for the City of Wheat Ridge contains all of the
elements of the overall plan that are specific to the City of Wheat Ridge.
Flood insurance rates continue to rise for many property owners and renters due to ongoing changes in how those rates are calculated. Although rate increases are capped at 18 percent/year, many residents’ rates will rise at that maximum of 18%. For this reason, staff considers keeping the CRS rating and discount critical. The City’s current rating is a Class 5, which results in a
25% discount for residents that live in the floodplain. Only nine other communities in Colorado
are rated at a Class 5 or above.
Adopting this update will help to maintain the City’s CRS rating and the discount received. Having an up-to-date mitigation plan satisfies one of the pre-requisites to reach a Class 4, which might be achievable with additional work to improve the City’s CRS program. There is only one
community in Colorado with a rating above a Class 5.
RECOMMENDATIONS Staff will be recommending adoption of this update to the Jefferson County Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan as an official plan upon approval by the COOEM and FEMA. This updated plan will aid in future planning of projects that will lessen the impact of a natural disaster on the
community and will help maintain the City’s CRS rating.
ATTACHMENTS: 1. Excerpt from Draft 2021 Jefferson County Multi-hazard Mitigation Plan 2. Annex E (City of Wheat Ridge) from Draft 2021 Jefferson County Multi-hazard
Mitigation Plan
Jefferson County
Hazard Mitigation Plan
Public Review Draft
June 2021
Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan
Table of Contents
2021-2026 Page 1-1
Contents
1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 1-1
1.1 Executive Summary ................................................................................................................. 1-1 1.2 Background .............................................................................................................................. 1-2 1.3 Purpose and Scope .................................................................................................................. 1-4
2 Community Profile........................................................................................................................... 2-1
2.1 Geography and Climate ........................................................................................................... 2-1 2.2 Population ................................................................................................................................. 2-4 2.3 Social Vulnerability .................................................................................................................. 2-5 2.4 History ..................................................................................................................................... 2-13 2.5 Economy ................................................................................................................................. 2-13
2.6 Land Use and Development Trends ..................................................................................... 2-14 2.7 Capabilities Assessment ....................................................................................................... 2-15
2.7.1 Regulatory Mitigation Capabilities ...................................................................................... 2-15 2.7.2 Administrative/Technical Mitigation Capabilities ................................................................ 2-22
2.7.3 Fiscal Mitigation Capabilities .............................................................................................. 2-23 2.7.4 Other Mitigation Efforts ....................................................................................................... 2-24
2.7.5 Opportunities for Enhancement .......................................................................................... 2-26
3 Planning Process ............................................................................................................................ 3-1
3.1 Background on Mitigation Planning in Jefferson County ................................................... 3-1 3.2 What's New in the Plan Update ............................................................................................... 3-1 3.3 Local Government Participation ............................................................................................. 3-3 3.4 The 10-Step Planning Process ................................................................................................ 3-4
3.4.1 Phase 1: Organize Resources ............................................................................................. 3-5 3.4.2 Phase 2: Assess Risks ....................................................................................................... 3-15 3.4.3 Phase 3: Develop the Mitigation Plan ................................................................................ 3-16 3.4.4 Phase 4: Implement the Plan and Monitor Progress.......................................................... 3-16
4 Risk Assessment ............................................................................................................................. 4-1
4.1 Hazard Identification ................................................................................................................ 4-2
4.1.1 Results and Methodology ..................................................................................................... 4-2 4.1.2 Hazard Identification Summary ............................................................................................ 4-2 4.1.3 Hazards Not Profiled ............................................................................................................ 4-4 4.1.4 Disaster Declaration History ................................................................................................. 4-4
4.2 Asset Summary ........................................................................................................................ 4-6
4.2.1 Population and Structures .................................................................................................... 4-6 4.2.2 Critical Facilities, Infrastructure, and Other Important Community Assets........................... 4-9 4.2.3 Natural, Historic, and Cultural Resources .......................................................................... 4-10 4.2.4 Growth and Development Trends ...................................................................................... 4-17
4.3 Hazard Profiles ....................................................................................................................... 4-20
4.3.1 Profile Methodology ............................................................................................................ 4-20 4.3.2 Avalanche ........................................................................................................................... 4-24 4.3.3 Dam Failure/Incidents ........................................................................................................ 4-28 4.3.4 Drought ............................................................................................................................... 4-47 4.3.5 Earthquake ......................................................................................................................... 4-57 4.3.6 Erosion and Deposition ...................................................................................................... 4-72 4.3.7 Expansive Soils .................................................................................................................. 4-78
Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan
Table of Contents
2021-2026 Page 1-2
4.3.8 Extreme Temperatures ....................................................................................................... 4-86 4.3.9 Flood ................................................................................................................................... 4-95 4.3.10 Hailstorms .................................................................................................................... 4-133 4.3.11 Landslides, Debris Flows, and Rockfalls ..................................................................... 4-139 4.3.12 Lightning ....................................................................................................................... 4-147 4.3.13 Severe Winter Storms .................................................................................................. 4-153
4.3.14 Subsidence .................................................................................................................. 4-160 4.3.15 Tornado ........................................................................................................................ 4-167 4.3.16 Wildfire ......................................................................................................................... 4-174 4.3.17 Windstorm .................................................................................................................... 4-195 4.3.18 Cyber Attack ................................................................................................................. 4-204 4.3.19 Pandemic ..................................................................................................................... 4-209
5 Mitigation Strategy .......................................................................................................................... 5-1
5.1 Goals and Objectives ................................................................................................................ 5-1 5.2 Progress on Previous Mitigation Actions ............................................................................... 5-3
5.2.1 Continued Compliance with NFIP ........................................................................................ 5-4
5.3 Identification of Mitigation Actions ....................................................................................... 5-4
5.3.1 Prioritization Process .......................................................................................................... 5-5
5.4 Mitigation Action Plan ............................................................................................................. 5-6
6 Plan Implementation and Maintenance ......................................................................................... 6-1
6.1 Implementation ......................................................................................................................... 6-1
6.1.1 Role of the All-Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee in Implementation and Maintenance ... .............................................................................................................................................. 6-1
6.2 Plan Maintenance ..................................................................................................................... 6-2
6.2.1 Monitoring ............................................................................................................................. 6-2 6.2.2 Evaluation ............................................................................................................................. 6-2 6.2.3 Updates ................................................................................................................................ 6-3
6.3 Integration into Existing Planning Mechanisms ................................................................... 6-3
6.3.1 Comprehensive Plans .......................................................................................................... 6-4 6.3.2 Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (THIRA) ........................................ 6-4 6.3.3 Recovery Plan ...................................................................................................................... 6-4 6.3.4 Continuity of Operations Plans (COOP) ............................................................................... 6-5 6.3.5 Integrated Preparedness Plan (IPP) .................................................................................... 6-5 6.3.6 Public Awareness and Education Programs ........................................................................ 6-5 6.3.7 Critical Infrastructure Protection Plan ................................................................................... 6-5 6.3.8 Capital Improvements Plan .................................................................................................. 6-5 6.3.9 Sustainability Plans .............................................................................................................. 6-5
6.4 Continued Public Involvement................................................................................................ 6-6
Annexes
Annex A – City of Arvada
Annex B – City of Edgewater
Annex C – City of Golden
Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan
Table of Contents
2021-2026 Page 1-3
Annex D – City of Lakewood
Annex E – City of Wheat Ridge
Annex F – Town of Morrison
Annex G – Arvada Fire Protection District
Annex H – Elk Creek Fire Protection District
Annex I – Evergreen Fire Rescue
Annex J – Fairmount Fire Protection District
Annex K – Foothills Fire Protection District
Annex L – Genesee Fire Protection District
Annex M – Golden Gate Fire Protection District
Annex N – Indian Hills Fire Protection District
Annex O – Inter-Canyon Fire Protection District
Annex P – North Fork Fire Protection District
Annex Q – West Metro Fire Protection District
Annex R – Lookout Mountain Water District
Annex S – Denver Water
Annex T – Jefferson Conservation District
Annex U – Town of Lakeside (not updated)
Annex V – Town of Mountain View (not updated)
Annex W – Pleasant View Metro District (not updated)
Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan
Table of Contents
2021-2026 Page 1-4
Appendices
Appendix A – Approval and Adoption
Appendix B – Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee
Appendix C – Planning Process Documentation
Appendix D – Public Survey Results
Appendix E – Mitigation Alternatives
Appendix F – References
Appendix G – Definitions and Acronyms
Appendix H – Map of Critical Facilities (Not For Public Release)
Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan
Introduction
June 2021 Page 1-1
1 Introduction
1.1 Executive Summary
The following jurisdictions have prepared and adopted this 2021 update of the Jefferson County Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP):
• Jefferson County
• City of Arvada
• City of Edgewater
• City of Golden
• City of Lakewood
• Town of Morrison
• City of Wheat Ridge
• Arvada Fire Protection District
• Elk Creek Fire Protection District
• Evergreen Fire Protection District
• Fairmount Fire Protection District
• Foothills Fire Protection District
• Genesee Fire Protection District
• Golden Gate Fire Protection District
• Indian Hills Fire Protection District
• Inter-Canyon Fire Protection District
• Jefferson Conservation District
• Lookout Mountain Water District
• North Fork Fire Protection District
• West Metro Fire Protection District
• Denver Water
The purpose of hazard mitigation is to reduce or eliminate long-term risk to people and property from disasters or hazardous events. Studies have found that hazard mitigation is extremely cost-effective, with every dollar spent on mitigation saving an average of $6 in avoided future losses. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) requires that hazard mitigation plans be updated every five years for the jurisdictions to be eligible for federal mitigation assistance. All sections of the 2016 Jefferson County Hazard Mitigation Plan were reviewed and updated to address natural and human-caused hazards for the purpose of saving lives and reducing losses from future disasters or hazard events.
This Plan will serve as a blueprint for coordinating and implementing hazard mitigation policies, programs, and projects in Jefferson County. It provides a list of mitigation goals and related actions that may assist
Jefferson County and its municipalities in reducing risk and preventing loss from future hazard events. The impacts of hazards can often be lessened or even avoided if appropriate actions are taken before events occur. By reducing exposure to known hazard risks, communities will save lives and property and minimize the social, economic, and environmental disruptions that commonly follow hazard events.
This Plan was also developed to maintain Jefferson County’s and participating jurisdictions’ eligibility for federal disaster assistance, specifically the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA), Hazard
Mitigation Assistance (HMA) grants including the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA), and Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant
program, as well as the Rehabilitation of High Hazard Potential Dam (HHPD) grant program.
Section 1 contains the Plan Introduction and Executive Summary.
Section 2 Community Profile describes the planning area, consisting of Jefferson County and the participating jurisdictions listed above, with updated information on demographics, social vulnerability,
and changes in development. It includes an assessment of programs and policies currently in place across the County to reduce hazard impacts or that could be used to implement hazard mitigation activities, and identifies opportunities to enhance those capabilities.
Section 3 Planning Process describes the process followed to update the Plan. A broad range of public
and private stakeholders, including agencies, local businesses, nonprofits, and other interested parties were invited to participate. Public input was sought throughout the planning process including online
surveys and public review of the draft Plan.
Section 4 Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment identifies the natural and human-caused hazards of greatest concern to the County, and describes the risk from those hazards. The information generated through the risk assessment helps communities to prioritize and focus their efforts on those hazards of
greatest concern and those assets or areas facing the greatest risk(s). The best available information on
Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan
Introduction
June 2021 Page 1-2
the impacts of changing weather conditions were taken into account for each hazard. The hazards profiled in the 2021 Plan and their assessed significance are shown in the following table.
Table 1-1 Hazards Identification Summary
Hazard Geographic
Extent
Probability of Future Occurrence
Potential Severity/Magnitude Overall Significance
Avalanche Negligible Unlikely Negligible Low
Cyber Attack Significant Likely Limited Medium
Dam Failure Significant Occasional Critical High
Drought Extensive Likely Critical Medium
Earthquake Significant Unlikely Catastrophic Medium
Erosion and Deposition Significant Likely Critical Medium
Expansive Soils Extensive Likely Limited Medium
Extreme Temperatures Extensive Likely Limited Low
Flood Limited Likely Critical High
Hailstorm Significant Likely Critical High
Landslide/Debris/Rockfall Limited Likely Limited-Negligible Medium
Lightning Limited Highly Likely Limited Medium
Pandemic Extensive Occasional Critical High
Severe Winter Storms Extensive Likely Critical High
Subsidence Limited Occasional Limited Medium
Tornado Limited Likely Limited Medium
Wildfire Significant Highly Likely Critical High
Windstorm Significant Highly Likely Limited Medium
Section 5 Mitigation Strategy describes what the County and jurisdictions will do to reduce their vulnerability to the hazards identified in Section 4. It presents the goals and objectives of the mitigation program, and details a broad range of targeted mitigation actions to reduce losses from hazard events.
Section 6 Plan Implementation and Maintenance details how the Plan will be implemented, monitored, evaluated, and updated, as well as how the mitigation program will be integrated into other planning mechanisms.
Following the base plan, annexes for each participating jurisdiction go into greater detail about how the risk from natural and human-caused hazards varies across the planning area, and lists each jurisdictions’ identified mitigation actions.
It is important that local decision-makers stay involved in mitigation planning to provide new ideas and insight for future updates to the Jefferson County Hazard Mitigation Plan. As a long-term goal, the Hazard Mitigation Plan and the mitigation strategies identified within will be fully integrated into daily decisions and routines of local government. This will continue to require dedication and hard work, and to this end, this Plan update continues efforts to further strengthen the resiliency of Jefferson County.
1.2 Background
Each year in the United States, disasters take the lives of hundreds of people and injure thousands more. Nationwide, taxpayers pay billions of dollars annually to help communities, organizations, businesses,
and individuals recover from disasters. Additional expenses to insurance companies and
Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan
Introduction
June 2021 Page 1-3
nongovernmental organizations are not reimbursed by tax dollars, making the costs of disasters several times higher than calculated amounts. Figure 1-1 shows the number and type of natural disasters in the US that have done more than one billion dollars in damage, showing how the frequency and cost of major disasters have risen over the past several decades.
Figure 1-1 Billion-Dollar Disasters in the US, 1980-2018
Source: NOAA
However, some types of hazards are predictable, and much of the damage caused by these events can be mitigated through the use of various zoning, construction and permitting vehicles and other preventative actions. Hazard mitigation planning is the process through which hazards that threaten communities are identified, likely impacts of those hazards are determined, mitigation goals are set, and appropriate strategies to lessen impacts are determined, prioritized, and implemented. Hazard mitigation is defined by FEMA as “any sustained action taken to reduce or eliminate long-term risk to human life and property from a hazard event.” The results of a three-year, congressionally mandated independent study to assess future savings from mitigation activities provides evidence that mitigation activities are highly cost-effective. On average, each dollar spent on mitigation saves society an average of $6 in avoided future losses in addition to saving lives and preventing injuries, as illustrated in Figure 1-2.
This plan was prepared pursuant to the requirements of the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-390) and the implementing regulations set forth by the Interim Final Rule published in the Federal
Register on February 26, 2002 (44 CFR §201.6) and finalized on October 31, 2007. Hereafter, these requirements and regulations will be referred to collectively as the Disaster Mitigation Act or DMA. While the act emphasized the need for mitigation plans and more coordinated mitigation planning and implementation efforts, the regulations established the requirements that local hazard mitigation plans must meet in order for a local jurisdiction to be eligible for certain federal disaster assistance and hazard mitigation funding under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Act (Public Law 93-288).
Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan
Introduction
June 2021 Page 1-4
Figure 1-2 Financial Benefits of Hazard Mitigation
Source: National Institute of Building Sciences, Natural Hazard Mitigation Saves: 2019 Report
This plan builds on almost 20 years of mitigation planning in Jefferson County, starting with participation
in the 2003 Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) Hazard Mitigation Plan. Jefferson County developed its first stand-alone HMP in 2010, updated the plan in 2016, and has again updated it in 2021.
This plan is a comprehensive update to the 2016 plan. Information in this plan will be used to help guide and coordinate mitigation activities and decisions for local land use policy in the future. Proactive
mitigation planning will help reduce the cost of disaster response and recovery to the community and its property owners by protecting critical community facilities, reducing liability exposure, and minimizing
overall community impacts and disruption. The Jefferson County planning area is committed to reducing future disaster impacts and maintaining eligibility for federal funding.
1.3 Purpose and Scope
Jefferson County and the participating jurisdictions have prepared this multi-hazard mitigation plan to better protect the people and property of the County from the effects of hazard events. This plan demonstrates the community’s commitment to reducing risks from hazards and serves as a tool to help decision-makers direct mitigation activities and resources. This plan was also developed to position Jefferson County and its participating jurisdictions for the eligibility of certain federal mitigation funding assistance, specifically, the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Assistance grant programs (HMA), which include Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM), and Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA). This plan also aligns with the planning elements of the National Flood Insurance Program’s Community Rating System (CRS), which provides for lower flood insurance premiums in CRS-participating communities.
Jefferson County remains dedicated to implementing the actions and strategies outlined in this updated Hazard Mitigation Plan. The Plan will be maintained regularly to address changes in hazards or vulnerabilities, and will be updated within the next five years.
Jefferson County Hazard Mitigation Plan
Annex E. City of Wheat Ridge
2021-2026 Page E-1
Annex E. City of Wheat Ridge
E.1 Background and Planning Process
This Annex was updated during the development of the 2021 Jefferson County Hazard Mitigation Plan. The City of Wheat Ridge fully participated in the 2021 update process as described in Section 3. The City had previously participated in the 2016 Jefferson County Hazard Mitigation Plan and has been active in implementing that plan as described in Section E.9. A review of jurisdictional priorities found no significant changes in priorities since the last update. Individuals who participated in the update process and represented the City on the Planning Team are listed in Appendix B.
More details on the planning process and how the jurisdictions, special districts, and stakeholders participated, as well as how the public was involved, can be found in Chapter 3 of the Base Plan.
E.2 Community Profile
Figure E-1 shows a map of the City of Wheat Ridge.
Figure E-1 City of Wheat Ridge
E.2.1 History
The City of Wheat Ridge is a Home Rule Municipality located in Jefferson County, Colorado, United
States. Wheat Ridge is a western suburb of Denver.
Wheat Ridge was founded as a community in 1859. During that year, a small group of farmers, some
coming to Colorado in search of gold and silver, founded a rural village in this location. By the late 1800s, fertile soils and plentiful water led to the development of a small farming community. Up until World War
ATTACHMENT 2
Jefferson County Hazard Mitigation Plan
Annex E. City of Wheat Ridge
2021-2026 Page E-2
II, Wheat Ridge was a major supplier of fresh produce to the greater Denver area. However, during the 1940s and 1950s as the city evolved, carnation production became a major growth industry. For a time, Wheat Ridge was the largest producer of carnations throughout the world. Although commercial wheat production is a thing of the past, the ridges upon which much of this agricultural activity occurred remain, providing expansive views of the Front Range. Additionally, several greenhouses remain in the northwest metropolitan area. Each August, the city celebrates this heritage with the Carnation Festival. Started in
1970, the festival draws thousands of people to this premier civic event. The city was fully incorporated in 1969 as a statutory city when it was faced with annexation by surrounding cities. In 2019, the City
celebrated its 50th birthday.
Today Wheat Ridge is home to approximately 31,000 residents – making it one the smallest cities in the Denver metropolitan area. The City is an inner-ring suburb that affords residents with many of the conveniences of urban living, though the community still retains its small town character with a strong
sense of community. Its slow growth, compared to adjacent suburbs, offers stark contrast to the region’s significant population growth over recent years. Residents enjoy easy access to I-70 and downtown Denver. The City is well known for its nationally recognized park and trail system and lush tree canopy. Wheat Ridge is a community with deep roots and short commutes.
E.2.2 Population The U. S Census Bureau’s estimated 2019 population of Wheat Ridge was 31,331. Select Census and
American Community Survey demographic and social characteristics are shown in Table E-1 through Table E-2.
Table E-1 Wheat Ridge Demographic and Social Characteristics
Wheat Ridge 2015 2019 % Change
Population 30,863 31,331 1.52%
Median Age 42.6 41.2 -3.3%
Total Housing Units 14,846 14,692 -1.0%
Housing Occupancy Rate 94.2% 95.8% 1.7%
% of Housing Units with no Vehicles Available 7.6% 6.3% -17.1%
Median Home Value $256,900 $383,900 49.4%
Unemployment Rate 7.9% 3.7% -53.2%
Mean Travel Time to Work (minutes) 23.2 25.2 8.6%
Median Household Income $47,841 $57,659 20.5%
Per Capita Income $30,531 $35,956 17.8%
% of Individuals Below Poverty Level 13.6% 12.9% -5.1%
% Without Health Insurance 13.6% 5.8% -57.4%
# of Households 13,978 14,080 0.7%
Average Household Size 2.2 2.2 0.5%
% of Population Over 25 with High School Diploma or Higher 88.8% 91.3% 2.8%
% of Population Over 25 with Bachelor’s Degree or Higher 31.5% 35.8% 13.7%
% with Disability 14.1% 14.1% 0.0%
% Speak English less than "Very Well" 3.6% 2.2% -38.9%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey, 5-Year Estimates 2015-2019
Jefferson County Hazard Mitigation Plan
Annex E. City of Wheat Ridge
2021-2026 Page E-3
Table E-2 Wheat Ridge Demographic & Social Characteristics Compared to the County & State
Demographic & Social Characteristics (as of 2019) Wheat Ridge County Colorado
Median Age 41.2 40.3 36.7
Housing Occupancy Rate 95.8% 96.4% 90.0%
% of Housing Units with no Vehicles Available 6.3% 3.9% 5.1%
Median Home Value $383,900 $397,700 $343,300
Unemployment 3.7% 3.6% 4.3%
Mean Travel Time to Work (minutes) 25.2 28 25.8
Median Household Income $57,659 $82,986 $72,331
Per Capita Income $35,956 $44,119 $38,226
% of Individuals Below Poverty Level 12.9% 7.1% 10.3%
% Without Health Insurance 5.8% 5.5% 7.6%
Average Household Size 2.2 2.40 2.56
% of Population Over 25 with High School Diploma or Higher 91.3% 94.5% 91.7%
% of Population Over 25 with bachelor’s degree or Higher 35.8% 45.2% 40.9%
% with Disability 14.1% 10.0% 10.6%
% Speak English less than "Very Well" 2.2% 3.0% 5.8%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey, 5-Year Estimates 2015-2019
Table E-3 Wheat Ridge Demographics by Race and Sex
Wheat Ridge Population %
Total Population 31,331
Male 15,256 48.7%
Female 16,075 51.3%
White, not Hispanic 23,111 73.8%
Hispanic or Latino 6,701 21.4%
Black 309 1.0%
Asian 350 1.1%
American Indian and Alaska Native 82 0.3%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0 0.0%
Some other race 170 0.5%
Two or more races 608 1.9%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey, 5-Year Estimates 2015-2019
Jefferson County Hazard Mitigation Plan
Annex E. City of Wheat Ridge
2021-2026 Page E-4
Figure E-2 Wheat Ridge Population Distribution by Age
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey, 5-Year Estimates 2015-2019
Figure E-3 Wheat Ridge Income Distribution
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey, 5-Year Estimates 2015-2019
E.2.3 Social Vulnerability
Social vulnerability scores for the entirety of Jefferson County can be seen in Figures 2-2 through 2-6 in
Section 2 of the Base Plan. Wheat Ridge’s overall social vulnerability is above average compared to the
rest of Jefferson County and Colorado as a whole. In particular, Wheat Ridge’s vulnerability ranks above
high in the household composition and disability vulnerability category, and above average in the housing
and transportation and socioeconomic vulnerability categories. However, the City’s vulnerability ranks low
in the minority status and language vulnerability category. Resources and measures to reduce the social
determinants of disasters may be most effectively allocated to these areas. Moreover, it is critical that the
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Jefferson County Hazard Mitigation Plan
Annex E. City of Wheat Ridge
2021-2026 Page E-5
City analyze the individual social vulnerability indicators that make those parts of the community stand
out. Through ongoing evaluation, the City of Wheat Ridge will be able to more effectively reduce local
social vulnerability and increase their resilience to hazard events. For more discussion of Social
Vulnerability, see Section 2.3 of the Base Plan.
E.2.4 Growth and Development Trends
Table E-4 shows the various types and amounts of housing units in the City of Wheat Ridge based on
data from the American Community Survey Five Year Estimates for 2015-2019. As shown in the table, most housing units (52.1%) are single family homes (1-unit detached) in Wheat Ridge.
Table E-4 City of Wheat Ridge Types and Total Housing Units
Type of housing units Total %
Total housing units 14,692
1-unit detached 7,658 52.1%
1-unit attached 1,615 11.0%
2 units 522 3.6%
3 or 4 units 887 6.0%
5 to 9 units 1,001 6.8%
10 to 19 units 1,343 9.1%
20 or more units 1,647 11.2%
Mobile home 7 0.0%
Boat, RV, van, etc. 12 0.1%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 5-Year Estimates 2015-2019
Table E-5 illustrates how Wheat Ridge has grown in terms of population and number of housing units between 2015 and 2019. The table illustrates that Wheat Ridge is undergoing moderate population growth but is losing housing stock.
Table E-5 Wheat Ridge’s Change in Population and Housing Units, 2015-2019
2015 Population 2019 Population Estimate
Percent Change 2015-2019
2015 # of Housing Units 2019 Estimated # of Housing Units
Estimated Percent Change 2015-2019 30,863 31,331 +1.52% 14,846 14,692 -1.0% Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 5-Year Estimates 2015-2019
Most of the City is already developed; however, much of the developed areas are older and are slowly
undergoing redevelopment. All redevelopments are complying with current codes, so the regulations are being followed in the identified hazard areas, i.e., floodplains. The only area available for new growth is
on the west side of the City. Again, any developments in this area will also comply with the current codes, including those regulating identified hazard areas.
According to the HMPC, Wheat Ridge has seen 3 new apartment communities constructed since 2016, with 2 more starting soon. In addition, over 1,000 new townhome units have been or are being
constructed. All of this development is occurring in areas of low risk for avoidable natural hazards.
E.2.5 Natural, Cultural, and Historic Resources Assessing the vulnerability of Wheat Ridge to disaster also involves inventorying the natural, historical, and cultural assets of the area. This step is important for the following reasons:
• The community may decide that these types of resources warrant a greater degree of protection due to their unique and irreplaceable nature and contribution to the overall economy.
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• If these resources are impacted by a disaster, knowing so ahead of time allows for more prudent care in the immediate aftermath, when the potential for additional impacts are higher.
• The rules for reconstruction, restoration, rehabilitation, and/or replacement are often different for these types of designated resources.
• Natural resources can have beneficial functions that reduce the impacts of natural hazards, such as wetlands and riparian habitat, which help absorb and attenuate floodwaters.
Natural Resources
Natural resources of importance in Wheat Ridge include the 42 sites that are parks, open space, recreation centers, or areas of visual green space totaling approximately 430 acres. Of this, 7 sites are neighborhood parks (49.20 acres), and 7 sites are pocket parks (8.0 acres). Two park sites in the city are
community parks (66.0 acres). These two community parks also serve as neighborhood parks for residents living nearby, which is generally considered within a 0.5-mile radius. There is also 1 dedicated
sports complex in the city (16.0 acres), 1 natural area (9.0 acres), 1 open space area (250.0 acres), and 17 areas of visual green space (0.87 acre). For information about natural resources in Jefferson County,
which includes Wheat Ridge, see Section 4.2.3 of the Base Plan.
Historic and Cultural Resources
Table E-6 lists the properties in Wheat Ridge that are on the National Register of Historic Places and/or the Colorado State Register of Historic Properties; for more information about these registers, see
Section 4.2.3 of the Base Plan.
Table E-6 Wheat Ridge’s Historic Properties/Districts in National and State Registers
Property Address Date Listed James H Baugh House 11361 W 44th Ave 8/14/12 Crown Hill Burial Park 7777 W. 29th Ave. 7/24/08 Fruitdale Grade School 10801 W 44th Ave 3/20/2013
Pioneer Sod House 4610 Robb St 03/14/1973
Richards Mansion 5349 W 27th Ave 9/15/1977
Wheat Ridge Post Office 4610 Robb Street State Register 8/12/1992
Sources: http://www.nps.gov/nr/
The National Park Service administers two programs that recognize the importance of historic resources, specifically those pertaining to architecture and engineering. While inclusion in these programs does not
give these structures any sort of protection, they are valuable historic assets. There are currently no Historic American Building Survey (HABS) or Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) buildings in the City of Wheat Ridge.
It should be noted that as defined by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), any property over 50
years of age is considered a historic resource and is potentially eligible for the National Register. Thus, in the event that the property is to be altered, or has been altered, as the result of a major federal action, the
property must be evaluated under the guidelines set forth by NEPA. Structural mitigation projects are considered alterations for the purpose of this regulation.
E.3 Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment
A hazard identification and vulnerability analysis was completed for the City of Wheat Ridge using the same methodology as in the base plan. The information to support the hazard identification and risk assessment for this Annex was collected through a Data Collection Guide.
Each participating jurisdiction was in support of the main hazard summary identified in the base plan; however, the hazard summary for each jurisdictional annex may vary slightly due to specific hazard risk and vulnerabilities unique to that jurisdiction. This helps to differentiate the jurisdiction’s risk and vulnerabilities from that of the overall County.
Table E-7 lists the significance of each hazard for the City of Wheat Ridge based on the updated risk assessment and planning team input. The highest risk hazards were determined to be dam failure, flood, pandemic, and tornado.
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Table E-7 City of Wheat Ridge – Hazards Summary
Hazard Geographic
Extent Frequency Severity Overall
Significance
Avalanche Negligible Unlikely Negligible Low
Cyber Attack Limited Occasional Negligible Low
Dam Failure Limited Occasional Critical High
Drought Extensive Likely Negligible Low
Earthquake Extensive Unlikely Negligible Low
Erosion and Deposition Limited Highly Likely Negligible Low
Expansive Soils Limited Likely Negligible Low
Extreme Temperatures Extensive Highly Likely Negligible Low
Flood Significant Occasional Critical High
Hailstorm Extensive Likely Limited Medium
Landslides, Debris/Rockfalls Limited Unlikely Negligible Low
Lightning Limited Likely Negligible Low
Pandemic Extensive Unlikely Catastrophic High
Severe Winter Storms Extensive Highly Likely Limited Medium
Subsidence Limited Unlikely Negligible Low
Tornado Significant Likely Critical High
Wildfire Significant Occasional Limited Medium
Windstorm Extensive Likely Limited Medium
Geographic Extent
Negligible: Less than 10 percent of planning area or isolated single-point occurrences
Limited: 10 to 25 percent of the planning area or limited single-point occurrences
Significant: 25 to 75 percent of planning area or frequent single-point occurrences
Extensive: 75 to 100 percent of planning area or consistent single-point occurrences
Potential Severity/Magnitude
Negligible: Less than 10 percent of property is severely damaged, facilities and services are unavailable for less than 24 hours, injuries and illnesses are treatable with first aid or within the response capability of the jurisdiction.
Limited: 10 to 25 percent of property is severely damaged, facilities and services are unavailable for between 1 and 7 days, injuries and illnesses require sophisticated medical support that does not strain the response capability of the jurisdiction, or results in very few permanent disabilities.
Critical: 25 to 50 percent of property is severely damaged, facilities and services are unavailable or severely hindered for 1 to 2 weeks, injuries and illnesses overwhelm medical support for a brief period of time, or result in many permanent disabilities and a few deaths.
Catastrophic: More than 50 percent of property is severely
damaged, facilities and services are unavailable or hindered
for more than 2 weeks, the medical response system is overwhelmed for an extended period of time or many deaths occur.
Probability of Future Occurrences
Unlikely: Less than 1 percent probability of occurrence in the next year, or has a recurrence interval of greater than every 100 years.
Occasional: Between a 1 and 10 percent probability of occurrence in the next year, or has a recurrence interval of 11 to 100 years.
Likely: Between 10 and 90 percent probability of occurrence in the next year, or has a recurrence interval of 1 to 10 years
Highly Likely: Between 90 and 100 percent probability of occurrence in the next year, or has a recurrence interval of less than 1 year.
Overall Significance
Low: Two or more of the criteria fall in the lower classifications or the event has a minimal impact on the planning area. Also used for hazards with a minimal or unknown record of occurrences and impacts or for hazards with minimal mitigation potential.
Medium: The criteria fall mostly in the middle ranges of
classifications and the event’s impacts on the planning area are noticeable but not devastating. Also used for hazards with a high impact rating but an extremely low frequency.
High: The criteria consistently fall along the high ranges of the
classification and the event exerts significant and frequent
impacts on the planning area. Also used for hazards with a high
psychological impact or for hazards that the jurisdiction
identifies as particularly relevant.
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E.4 Community Asset Inventory
Table E-8 shows the total number of improved parcels, properties, and their improvement and content values for the City of Wheat Ridge. See Section 4.2 of the Base Plan for details and methodology.
Table E-8 Wheat Ridge’s Property Inventory
Property Type Improved Parcels Buildings Improved Value Content Value Total Value
Agriculture 2 2 $22,618 $22,618 $45,236 Commercial 414 723 $416,007,224 $416,007,224 $832,014,448 Exempt 59 76 $114,136,176 $114,136,176 $228,272,352
Industrial 279 391 $214,853,118 $214,853,118 $429,706,236
Mixed Use 134 172 $57,727,100 $57,727,100 $115,454,200
Residential 10,277 12,141 $2,832,819,972 $1,416,409,986 $4,249,229,958 Total 11,165 13,505 $3,635,566,208 $2,219,156,222 $5,854,722,430
Source: Jefferson County Assessor’s Office
E.4.1 Other Assets Table E-9 is a detailed inventory of assets identified by the City’s planning team. This inventory includes some critical facilities. For more information about how “critical facility” is defined in this plan, see Section 4.3 Vulnerability Assessment.
Table E-9 Summary of Wheat Ridge’s Assets
Name of Asset Replacement Value ($) Occupancy/ Capacity # Hazard Specific Info
Exempla Lutheran Medical Campus 400 beds Tornado Wheat Ridge Medical Offices - Kaiser Tornado
City Hall – Police Tornado
Wheat Ridge Fire Station #1 Tornado
Wheat Ridge Fire Station #2 Tornado Maintenance Facility Tornado Maple Grove Reservoir 550 AF Flood, Dam Failure Wheat Ridge High School 1,275 Tornado Everitt Middle School 487 Tornado
Wheat Ridge Middle School 366 Tornado
Prospect Valley Elementary School 476 Tornado
Stevens Elementary School 411 Tornado Wilmore-Davis Elementary School 283 Tornado Pennington Elementary School 277 Tornado Kullerstand Elementary School 267 Tornado Martensen Elementary School 252 Tornado
Compass Montessori Charter School 661 Tornado
Saint Peter & Paul Catholic School 351 Tornado Beth Eden Baptist School 233 Tornado Foothills Academy 190 Tornado Wheat Ridge Christian Academy 45 Tornado Norma Anderson Preschool 113 Tornado Kids in Action Preschool 80 Tornado
Alpine Valley Preschool 27 Tornado
Mountain Vista Health Center 168 Beds Tornado Highland West Apartments 120 Beds Tornado Sandalwood Manor 85 Beds Tornado Wheat Ridge Manor Nursing Home 81 Beds Tornado Christopher House 76 Beds Tornado
Vista Village Assisted Living 54 Beds Tornado
Wheat Ridge Assisted Living 46 Beds Tornado
Spring Ridge Park 37 Beds Tornado Wide Horizon 37 Beds Tornado
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2021-2026 Page E-10
Name of Asset Replacement Value ($) Occupancy/ Capacity # Hazard Specific Info
Verandas Assisted Living at Wheat Ridge 48 Beds Tornado 21 Other Nursing Homes 178 Beds Tornado
Interstate 70 135,000 ADT Winter Weather
State Highway 95 (Sheridan Boulevard) 35,000 ADT Winter Weather
State Highway 121 (Wadsworth Boulevard) 50,000 ADT Flood, Winter Weather
State Highway 391 (Kipling Street) 50,000 ADT Flood, Winter Weather State Highway 72 (Ward Road) 35,000 ADT Winter Weather State Highway 58 26,000 ADT Winter Weather Kipling Bridge over Clear Creek 50,000 ADT Flood, Winter Weather
Wadsworth Bridge over Clear Creek 50,000 ADT Flood, Winter Weather
44th Avenue Bridge over Clear Creek 14,000 ADT Flood, Winter Weather
Youngfield Avenue Bridge over Clear Creek 25,000 ADT Flood, Winter Weather
Interstate 70 Bridge over Clear Creek 85,000 ADT Flood, Winter Weather
BNSF Railroad Winter Weather
Emergency Warning System NA Hailstorm, Tornado, Windstorm Clear Creek Greenbelt 250 Acres Drought, Erosion, Flood, Hailstorm, Lightning, Tornado, Wildfire
Spiranthes Diluvialis (Ute Ladies-Tresses Orchid) <20 Acres Drought, Flood, Hailstorm, Wildfire Mycenastrum Corium (Earth Star Fungus) < 1 Acre Drought, Flood, Wildfire Wetlands 100 Acres Drought, Flood, Hailstorm, Wildfire Baugh House Tornado Sod House Tornado
Richards-Hart Estate 75 Tornado
Many of the facilities listed above are also in GIS databases provided by the City of Wheat Ridge and Jefferson County. Critical facility counts and types are shown in Table E-10. Shelters may be in facilities such as schools or recreation centers.
Table E-10 Summary of Wheat Ridge’s Critical Facilities in GIS
FEMA Lifeline Facility Type Facility Count Communications Land Mobile Private Towers 18
Microwave Service Towers 49
Paging Transmission 1 Total 68 Energy Electric Substation 1 Total 1 Hazardous Materials Tier II 11 Total 11
Health and Medical Hospital 1
Nursing Home 23 Total 24 Safety and Security EOC 1 Fire Station 4 Government Facility 3 Law Enforcement 1
School 13
Total 22
Transportation Aircraft Facility 1 Bridge 34 Total 35 Grand Total 161
Source: HFLD, Jefferson County
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E.5 Vulnerability Assessment
This section provides a refined vulnerability assessment, specific for the City of Wheat Ridge, for those hazards where the risk is significantly different from that of Jefferson County overall, or where sufficient data exists to conduct mapping and analysis at the local level. For the following hazards, the City’s risk does not differ significantly from the rest of the County, and they are not profiled further:
• Avalanche
• Drought
• Earthquake
• Erosion and Deposition
• Expansive Soils
• Extreme Temperatures
• Hailstorm
• Lightning
• Tornado
• Windstorm
• Winter Storm
• Cyber Attack
• Pandemic/Public Health
This section details vulnerability to specific hazards, where quantifiable, and where it differs from that of the overall County. The results of detailed GIS analyses used to estimate potential for future losses are presented here, in addition to maps of hazard areas. For a discussion of the methodology used to develop the loss estimates refer to Section 4.3 of the Base Plan.
E.5.1 Flood According to the vulnerability assessment conducted using GIS, Wheat Ridge has one of the higher potentials for economic loss from flooding in the County. Clear Creek flows through Wheat Ridge, and there is also risk from Lena Gulch that crosses the City. Note that this is based on computer modeling that may not reflect specific mitigation activities.
Figure E-4 depicts the FEMA flood zones (1% annual chance and 0.2% annual chance) as well as all the at-risk properties in Wheat Ridge.
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Annex E. City of Wheat Ridge
2021-2026 Page E-12
Figure E-4 Wheat Ridge Flood Hazards and Properties At-Risk
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2021-2026 Page E-13
Table E-11 shows the total parcels and buildings at risk to the 1% annual chance flood and Table E-12 shows the values at risk in the same flood scenario. For this analysis, content values were estimated based on prevailing land use and a multiplier was applied to building and content values to estimate losses to each. See Section 4 Hazard Profiles for details on methodology. According to the analysis, 414 buildings (364 of which are residential) are at risk, totaling $42.2 million of damage to buildings and contents.
Table E-11 City of Wheat Ridge Buildings At-Risk to 1% Annual Chance Flood
Property
Type
Improved
Parcels
Buildings Improved
Value
Content
Value
Total Value Total Loss
Estimate
Commercial 8 12 $2,593,423 $2,593,423 $5,186,846 $1,296,712
Exempt 4 6 $497,426 $497,426 $994,852 $248,713
Industrial 11 32 $6,619,031 $9,928,547 $16,547,578 $4,136,894 Residential 310 364 $97,448,413 $48,724,207 $146,172,620 $36,543,155 Total 333 414 $107,158,293 $61,743,602 $168,901,895 $42,225,474 Source: Jefferson County Assessor
Table E-12 shows the parcels and buildings at risk to the 0.2% annual chance flood and Table E-13 shows the values at risk in the same flood scenario. For this analysis, content values were estimated based on prevailing land use and a multiplier was applied to building and content values to estimate losses to each. See Section 4 Hazard Profiles for details on methodology. According to the analysis, 1,027 buildings (975 of which are residential) are at risk, totaling $112.6 million in damage to buildings and contents over and above the 0.2% scenario. Note that this analysis does not account for properties which may have been built in accordance with local floodplain regulations and mitigated to the 1% annual chance flood.
Table E-12 City of Wheat Ridge Buildings At-Risk to 0.2% Annual Chance Flood
Property
Type
Improved
Parcels
Buildings Improved
Value
Content Value Total Value Total Loss
Estimate
Agriculture 1 1 $11,380 $11,380 $22,760 $5,690
Commercial 30 38 $29,597,739 $29,597,739 $59,195,478 $14,798,870
Exempt 2 2 $333,766 $333,766 $667,532 $166,883
Industrial 4 7 $3,171,115 $4,756,673 $7,927,788 $1,981,947
Mixed Use 4 4 $939,180 $939,180 $1,878,360 $469,590
Residential 737 975 $253,897,472 $126,948,736 $380,846,208 $95,211,552
Total 778 1,027 $287,950,652 $162,587,474 $450,538,126 $112,634,531
Source: Jefferson County Assessor
Figure E-5 shows the FEMA flood zones for the City of Wheat Ridge.
For the City of Wheat Ridge, this analysis showed that there are 12 critical facilities in the 1% annual chance flood zone, 8 of which are bridges (Table E-13). The analysis also showed that there are 17 additional critical facilities in the 0.2% annual chance flood zone (), mostly in the northeastern portion of the City.
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Figure E-5 City of Wheat Ridge Flood Hazards
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Annex E. City of Wheat Ridge
2021-2026 Page E-15
Table E-13 City of Wheat Ridge Critical Facilities in 1% Annual Chance Floodplain
Jurisdiction FEMA Lifeline Facility Type Facility Count
Wheat Ridge Communications Microwave Service Towers 4
Transportation Bridge 8
Total 12
Source: Jefferson County Assessor, HFLD
Table E-14 City of Wheat Ridge Critical Facilities in 0.2% Annual Chance Floodplain
Jurisdiction FEMA Lifeline Facility Type Facility Count
Wheat Ridge Communications Land Mobile Private Towers 2
Health and Medical Nursing Home 1
Safety and Security Fire Station 1
Safety and Security Government Facility 1
Transportation Bridge 12
Total 17
Source: Jefferson County Assessor, HFLD
Previous Flood Events
Through the Data Collection Guide, the City of Wheat Ridge noted specific historic hazard events to include in the community profile. These events have been incorporated into the appropriate hazard
chapters in the base plan. These events had a particular impact on the community beyond the impacts and events recorded in the Jefferson County Hazard Mitigation Plan. This is not a comprehensive
summary of past incidents, as the hazard profiles collected in the main Mitigation Plan include other events that may have historically impacted the jurisdiction.
The events noted by this jurisdiction in the Data Collection Guide include:
April 2015 thru Early July 2015 Heavy Rains and Flooding
During this period, the City received rainfall almost equal to its annual average. During just the 8 weeks from mid-April to mid-June, the City received 13.5 inches of rainfall. Basement flooding was reported
throughout the City due to the high groundwater that resulted.
September 2013 Localized Flooding
Although the City was spared the impacts of the week-long rainfall that inundated northern Colorado, one afternoon a localized thunderstorm passed over the central part of the City dropping around 2.5 inches of rain and small hail in about an hour. Local flooding occurred in several areas with several basements being flooded. Clear Creek at the bridge over Kipling was very close to the underside of it due to high
flows but was never overtopped.
E.5.2 Dam Failure
According to the analysis of dams, Wheat Ridge has one High Hazard dam (Maple Grove Dam) whose failure could impact life and/or property. The Fairmount Reservoir Dam, also a High Hazard Dam, is
located immediately to the west of the City of Wheat Ridge, see Figure E-6. Note that there are several dams west of Jefferson County that could impact Clear Creek if they failed. These are noted as impacting
Golden first in Section 4 of the Base Plan, but they would also impact Wheat Ridge.
Note: Hazard class does not indicate dam condition, it merely indicates risks in case of failure. A high
hazard dam poses risk to both life and property, a significant hazard dam only poses a risk to property. See discussion the Section 4 of the Base Plan.
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Figure E-6 Wheat Ridge Dam Inundation Risk
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Annex E. City of Wheat Ridge
2021-2026 Page E-17
Previous Dam Failure Events
Through the Data Collection Guide, the City of Wheat Ridge noted specific historic hazard events to include in the community profile. These events have been incorporated into the appropriate hazard chapters in the base plan. These events had a particular impact on the community beyond the impacts and events recorded in the Jefferson County Hazard Mitigation Plan. This is not a comprehensive summary of past incidents, as the hazard profiles collected in the main Mitigation Plan include other
events that may have historically impacted the jurisdiction.
The events noted by this jurisdiction in the Data Collection Guide include:
1979 Dam Failure
On March 17, 1979, the fabridam, a type of inflatable dam, was punctured by an unknown, sharp object. It was determined to be most likely due to vandalism. Vandalism of fabridam spillway for the Maple Grove Dam caused an unscheduled release of 100 acre-ft of water from the Maple Grove Reservoir in about 3
hours. Flooding occurred from the Dam south of 32nd Avenue to the confluence with Clear Creek. The fabridam spillway was replaced in 2004 with a more vandal resistant structure.
E.5.3 Geologic Hazards Wheat Ridge has some very limited exposure to landslide. There is a small area of risk in the northwest
corner of the City, between Mt. Olivet Cemetery and Ward Road Pond. Wheat Ridge’s proximity to the Golden Fault as a potential, though unlikely, earthquake source make it more vulnerable to earthquake
damage.
E.5.4 Wildfire While not a foothills community, Wheat Ridge does have some risk to wildfires, particularly along the Clear Creek riparian area, see Figure E-7. According to the GIS based analysis of wildfire, Wheat Ridge
has 580 improved parcels and 658 buildings exposed to the lowest wildfire risk area. Together, these properties represent a value of approximately $364 million. Wheat Ridge also has a total of 8 critical
facilities at risk to wildfire, see Table E-15.
Table E-15 Wheat Ridge Critical Facilities At-Risk to Wildfire
FEMA Lifeline Facility Type Facility Count
Communications Land Mobile Private Towers 1 Communications Microwave Service Towers 4 Hazardous Material Tier II 1 Health and Medical Nursing Home 1
Safety and Security Fire Station 1
Total 8
Source: Wood analysis on data provided by Jefferson County, COWRAP
E.5.5 Other Hazards In the case of other hazards that are not specific to geography such as drought, hailstorms, winter storms, lightning, tornado, and windstorm the entire building inventory and population in the City is potentially exposed. That is the reason for the asset inventory provided in Section 1.3. It should be noted that no
hazard in this plan is expected to cause widespread impacts to this inventory. The urban forest present across much of Wheat Ridge can be prone to windstorms and winter storms. These storms occasionally
cause large cottonwoods or tree limbs to impact power lines and properties.
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Figure E-7 City of Wheat Ridge COWRAP Wildfire Risk
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Annex E. City of Wheat Ridge
2021-2026 Page E-19
Previous Hazard Events
Through the Data Collection Guide, the City of Wheat Ridge noted specific historic hazard events to include in the community profile. These events have been incorporated into the appropriate hazard chapters in the base plan. These events had a particular impact on the community beyond the impacts and events recorded in the Jefferson County Hazard Mitigation Plan. This is not a comprehensive summary of past incidents, as the hazard profiles collected in the main Mitigation Plan include other
events that may have historically impacted the jurisdiction.
The events noted by this jurisdiction in the Data Collection Guide include:
May 8, 2017 Severe Thunderstorm and Large Hail
A severe afternoon thunderstorm impacted the Denver Metropolitan area, significantly impacting Jefferson County. Specific to the City of Wheat Ridge, damage to City owned facilities amounted to $2.2 million to buildings and $600,000 to City owned vehicles. 7,500 roofing permits were issued related to the
hailstorm with a total valuation of $212 million. Minor injuries were anecdotally reported, however there were no known hospitalizations in Wheat Ridge.
July 2009 Hail/Windstorm
A severe thunderstorm produced damaging winds, large hail, and very heavy rain across the western and
southern suburbs of Denver. Widespread damage was observed in the City of Wheat Ridge. The intense straightline winds were the result of a wet microburst which downed hundreds of trees and snapped
power poles. Winds gusts to 80 mph were reported along with nickel to golf ball size hail. The combination of wind and hail produced widespread damage to homes and vehicles. Many Wheat Ridge residents were left without power. Minor injuries were reported from broken glass during the storm, but no one was hospitalized. The City suffered an estimated $600,000 in damage to City property.
E.6 Capability Assessment
Capabilities are the programs and policies currently in use to reduce hazard impacts or that could be used to implement hazard mitigation activities. Wheat Ridge’s regulatory, administrative, and technical, and fiscal mitigation capabilities are summarized in Section 2.7 of the Base Plan.
National Flood Insurance Program
The City of Wheat Ridge joined the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) on May 26, 1972 and the Community Rating System (CRS) on October 1, 1991. The NFIP allows private property owners to purchase affordable flood insurance and enables the community to retain its eligibility to receive certain federally backed monies and disaster relief funds. The CRS is a voluntary program for NFIP-participating communities. It provides flood insurance discounts to policyholders in communities that provide extra measures of flood above the minimum NFIP requirements. As of December 2020, Wheat Ridge had a CRS class rating of 5 (one a scale of 1-10, 1 being the best). This rating provides a 25 percent discount for policyholders within a special flood hazard area (SFHA) and a 10 percent discount for those outside of an SFHA.
NFIP insurance data indicates that as of December 2020, there were 219 (down from 219 policies in 2015) policies in force in Wheat Ridge, resulting in $54,870,100 of insurance in force. In Wheat Ridge, there have been 45 historical claims (up from 44 historical claims in 2015) for flood losses totaling $97,251. At the time this plan was developed there were no repetitive or severe repetitive loss structures as defined by the NFIP.
Mapping: Wheat Ridge’s initial Flood Insurance Rate Map became effective on 5/26/1972. The most current Digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps were updated and became effective on 2/5/14.
Wheat Ridge’s municipal codes and ordinances have been updated to reflect the most current mapping. DFIRMs have been used by the City for both floodplain management and risk assessment purposes.
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Preventive
Preventive activities keep problems from getting worse. The use and development of hazard-prone areas is limited through planning, land acquisition, or regulation. They are usually administered by building, zoning, planning, and/or code enforcement offices.
2009 City of Wheat Ridge Comprehensive Plan
The City’s comprehensive plan is a guide to help the City make decisions and establish its future
direction. The goals and policies contained within the plan cover a broad range of subjects matter related to services, issues, and geographic areas within Wheat Ridge. Combined, these elements serve to direct future policy decisions to preserve vital community attributes and service levels and manage growth. The goals and policies were defined in the original 2000 Plan and remained unchanged in the Plan Addendums. The Plan Addendums each focus on new or changing development in Wheat Ridge.
The following goals and related polices that are relevant to this hazard mitigation plan are excerpted here:
• Goal CS 2 – Continue investment in parks, recreation, and open space. Wheat Ridge will maintain and continue to invest in providing quality parks, open space, and recreation facilities that are accessible to all neighborhoods and residents, using the Parks and Recreation Master Plan to guide investment and locations.
− CS 2.1 – Parks, Recreation and Open Space. The City, in coordination with Jefferson County, Jefferson County Schools, and other organizations will continue to maintain and enhance parks, recreation, and open space offerings and facilities.
• Goal CS 4 – Continue coordination with fire districts and utility providers to maintain quality service.
The City will continue to coordinate with utilities and fire districts to maintain quality levels of service to existing customers and provide new services to areas where future growth will occur.
− CS 4.1 – Utility and Service Districts. The City will continue to coordinate development and redevelopment activities with utility providers and service districts.
• Goal SF 2 – Protect and preserve natural assets. Wheat Ridge will protect and conserve its natural, scenic, and environmental assets including the urban tree canopy, Wheat Ridge Greenbelt, Lena Gulch, and other drainage ways.
− SF 2.1 – Natural Resource Stewardship. The City will continue to work with Jefferson County to
provide stewardship of unique and sensitive natural resources and areas.
Wheat Ridge Weed Management Program (2003) The Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Department
uses integrated pest management, a decision-making process that selects, integrates, and implements control methods to prevent or manage noxious weeds. The Weed Management Plan focuses on long-
term prevention or suppression of undesirable species while reducing the impact that control techniques may have on the environment, human health, and non-target species. The Weed Management Plan is an
integral part of the Wheat Ridge Open Space Management Plan.
Municipal Code
E.6.1.1.1 Section 26, Article 8: Floodplain Management
The City adopted several revisions to the floodplain ordinance on January 13, 2014, that went into effect
on January 28, 2014 (Ordinance 1544). These changes involved adopting new state regulations and new floodplain maps and incorporating minor changes to update the language in the ordinance to current
standards.
There were two new state regulations that the City adopted that included:
1. The freeboard requirement is the minimum height above the flood elevation for most buildings. This requirement has been set at two feet for critical facilities.
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2. Certain areas that are removed from the floodplain by using fill materials, would still be regulated as if they are still in a floodplain with respect to freeboard. This essentially means that basements would not
be allowed in those areas.
An excerpt from the municipal code is provided here. The city council hereby finds it in the public interest, and in the furtherance of the public health, safety and welfare, that the following objectives be fulfilled:
• To promote the public health, safety and general welfare, to minimize flood losses in areas subject to flood hazards, and to promote wise use of the “Flood Regulatory District” by:
− Prohibiting certain uses which are dangerous to life or property in time of flood.
− Restricting uses which would be hazardous to the public health in time of flood.
− Restricting uses which are so particularly susceptible to flood damage, so as to alleviate hardship and reduce demands for public expenditures for relief and protection.
− Restricting permitted Flood Regulatory District uses, including public facilities which serve such uses, to be protected against floods by providing floodproofing and general flood protection at the time of initial construction.
• To protect occupants of the Flood Regulatory District from a flood which is or may be caused by their own, or other, land use and which is or may be undertaken without full realization of the danger
through:
− Regulating the manner in which structures designed for human occupancy may be constructed so as to prevent danger to human life within such structures.
− Regulating the method of construction of water supply and sanitation systems so as to prevent disease, contamination and unsanitary conditions.
− Delineating and describing areas that could be inundated by floods so as to protect individuals
from purchasing lands for purposes which are not in fact suitable.
− Ensuring that potential buyers are notified that property is in an area of special flood hazard.
− Ensuring that those who occupy the areas of special flood hazards assume responsibility for their actions.
• To protect the public from the burden of extraordinary financial expenditures for flood control and relief.
− Regulating all uses within the Flood Regulatory District so as to produce a method of construction and a pattern of development which will minimize the probability of damage to property and loss of life or injury to the inhabitants of the flood hazard areas.
− Minimizing the need for rescue and relief efforts associated with flooding which are generally undertaken at the expense of the general public.
− Minimizing prolonged business interruptions.
− Minimizing damage to public facilities and utilities, such as water and gas mains; electric, telephone and sewer lines; streets and bridges located in areas of special flood hazard.
− Helping maintain a stable tax base by providing for sound use and development of areas of special flood hazard so as to minimize future flood-blight areas.
− Participating in the National Flood Insurance Program to assist property owners in obtaining adequate insurance coverage.
• To protect the hydraulic characteristics and storage capacity of the Flood Regulatory District and small watercourses, including the gulches, sloughs and artificial water channels, used for conveying floodwaters so as to promote retention of sufficient floodway area to convey flood flows which can reasonably be expected to occur by:
− Regulating filling, dumping, dredging and alteration of channels by deepening, widening or relocating, so as to maintain natural storage capacity and slow flow characteristics.
− Prohibiting unnecessary encroachments.
− Encouraging uses such as agriculture, open space, recreation, greenbelt, riding trails and parking.
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2021-2026 Page E-22
− Preventing or regulating the construction of flood barriers which will unnaturally divert floodwaters or which may increase flood hazards in other areas.
− Restricting or prohibiting uses which are dangerous to health, safety and property due to water or erosion hazards or which result in damaging increases in erosion or in flood heights or velocities.
− Requiring that uses vulnerable to floods, including facilities which serve such uses, be protected against flood damage at the time of initial construction.
(Ord. No. 2001-1215, § 1, 2-26-01)
Other Ordinances
Chapter 26 Zoning and Development - The intent and purpose of the zoning code of the City of Wheat Ridge is to encourage the most appropriate use of land throughout the city to ensure a logical growth of
the various physical elements of the city; to lessen congestion in the streets and to facilitate the adequate provision of transportation within and through the city; to secure safety from fire, panic and other dangers;
to provide adequate light and air to the residents, structures and properties within the city; to improve housing standards; to conserve property values; to facilitate adequate provision for water, sewage,
schools, parks and other public improvements; to protect against poor or inadequate drainage or flood conditions and poor geologic conditions; and in general to promote the health, safety and welfare of the
citizens and residents of the City of Wheat Ridge. It is further the intent of this zoning code to preserve the right of citizens to participate in the making of decisions which affect their properties while preserving,
to the maximum lawful extent, the legislative and quasi-judicial discretion of the elected representatives of the City of Wheat Ridge.
Property Protection
Property protection activities are usually undertaken by property owners on a building-by-building or
parcel basis.
The City has done several floodplain mitigation projects along Lena Gulch and purchased two properties in 2008 and 2009 for a future project. The houses and other improvements were removed from those properties and the properties were added to the nearby open space at Lewis Meadows Park. The City is
also exploring funding opportunities for projects along Clear Creek.
Natural Resource Protection
Natural protection activities preserve or restore natural areas or their natural functions. They are usually implemented by parks, recreation, or conservation agencies or organizations.
City of Wheat Ridge Open Space Management Plan (2002) – The purpose of the City of Wheat Ridge Open Space Management Plan is to establish a framework for setting priorities and provide specific
management direction for natural, scenic, and recreational resources within the Wheat Ridge Greenbelt, Lewis Meadows, and future open space acquisitions. Implementation of the Plan will assist the Wheat
Ridge Parks and Recreation Department in its efforts to preserve and enhance these areas for present and future generations. This Plan supplements numerous studies that have been completed through 2001 on Wheat Ridge open space. Relevant information from these municipal and county plans and environmental reports has been reviewed and incorporated into this Plan. The Weed Management and
Wildfire Management Plans are integral to the Open Space Management Plan.
Emergency Services
Emergency services measures are taken during an emergency to minimize its impacts. These measures are the responsibility of city or county emergency management staff and the owners or operators of major
or critical facilities.
The City has installed an Emergency Warning System with sirens that are capable of both tone and voice
warnings. Most of the floodplain areas of the City are currently covered by the EWS. As of 2015, there are 18 EWS sirens in Wheat Ridge – these are described further in the Wheat Ridge Local Energy Assurance
Plan.
City of Wheat Ridge Energy Assurance Plan (2012) - The City of Wheat Ridge Local Energy
Assurance Plan (LEAP) is a guide for Wheat Ridge city staff and officials charged with the
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Annex E. City of Wheat Ridge
2021-2026 Page E-23
responsibility of ensuring the continuity of operations and health and safety of the citizens of the City during periods of energy emergencies. The overall goal of the LEAP is to enable Wheat Ridge to
be more resilient to energy disruptions as a community.
The Plan is also designed to serve two specific purposes:
1. It serves as an energy disruption mitigation plan by identifying critical city facilities that must be operational during a disruption in order to maintain essential services.
2. It provides an analysis of events that could lead to widespread energy disruptions.
It serves as a supplement to the City of Wheat Ridge Emergency Operations Plan by outlining roles and
actions to provide for effective response during energy disruption events.
City of Wheat Ridge Wildfire Management Plan (2003) – As its foundation, the Wildfire Management Plan emphasizes working with adjacent landowners, land managers, and local agencies to reduce the potential effects of wildfire on human life, private property, and the natural resources of Wheat Ridge’s
Open Space. The Wildfire Management Plan is an integral part of the Wheat Ridge Open Space Management Plan.
Structural Projects
Structural projects keep hazards away from an area (e.g., levees, reservoirs, other flood control
measures). They are usually designed by engineers and managed or maintained by public works staff.
The City and MHFD have several proposed channelization projects that have been conceptually designed
in the Major Drainageway Planning – Phase B Conceptual Preliminary Design Reports that were completed in 2007 and 2008 for Lena Gulch and Clear Creek. The goal of these projects is to reduce the number of properties within the 100-year floodplain. Funding for these projects is being pursued. Previous projects along Lena Gulch have already removed some properties from the 100-year floodplain.
Public Information
Public information activities advise property owners, potential property owners, and visitors about the
hazards, ways to protect people and property from the hazards, and the natural and beneficial functions of natural resources (e.g., local floodplains). They are implemented by a public information team with support from various departments.
The City occasionally hosts an Open House event which is available to all residents. The Community
Development Department sponsors several tables with floodplain and stormwater information. Community Development also hosts an annual floodplain meeting with invitations being sent to all properties within
the 1% floodplain.
The City prepared a floodplain video for its Top of the Hour series on Channel 8 that received a 3rd place award at a national competition.
Public information boards are also included on kiosks at major parks that include emergency information
and other public health issues, i.e. animal diseases, wildfire, floods, etc.
The City also utilizes its website, Channel 8, a quarterly newsletter, and various social media outlets to
broadcast emergency information and public health concerns.
Opportunities for Enhancement
Based on the capability assessment, Wheat Ridge has several existing mechanisms in place that already help to mitigate hazards. There are also opportunities for the City to expand or improve on these policies
and programs to further protect the community. Table 2-15 in the Base Plan shows the potential financial
benefits from increasing the City’s Community Rating System class.
City staff attends and actively participates in tabletop exercises generally related to flooding events with adjacent agencies. Lessons learned from these tabletop events are incorporated into the emergency
preparedness plans of the participating departments. A recent tabletop exercise in 2021 highlighted the need to prepare response plans, including evacuation routes and centers, for flooding events along the
City’s major drainageways.
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Annex E. City of Wheat Ridge
2021-2026 Page E-24
E.7 Plan Implementation and Maintenance
Wheat Ridge has developed a Plan Maintenance and Implementation Strategy outlining their method and schedule for keeping the plan current. The Implementation Strategy below also includes a discussion of how the City will continue public participation in the plan maintenance process.
E.7.1 Implementation and Maintenance of the 2016 Hazard Mitigation Plan The City of Wheat Ridge recognizes and acknowledges the importance of hazard mitigation and has worked to integrate and incorporate hazard information into existing planning mechanisms. The City was
involved in the annual updates to the 2016 plan and when possible has implemented the various action in the plan.
E.7.2 Monitoring, Evaluation, and Updating the Plan The information contained within this plan, including results from the Vulnerability Assessment, and the Mitigation Strategy will be used by the City to help inform updates and the development of local plans, programs and policies, as described in Section 6 of the Base Plan.
Wheat Ridge Community Development Department will be responsible for monitoring, evaluating, and updating this plan using the process outlined in Section 6 of the Base Plan. Wheat Ridge Police Department will also be responsible for representing the City on future Jefferson County HMPC meetings, and for coordination with city staff and departments during plan updates. The Community Development and Police Departments and Fire District will meet at a minimum annually to discuss items that need to be updated and look at progress of action items. All items with budgetary requirements would need to be approved by City Council.
The City of Wheat Ridge will also continue to involve the public in mitigation, as described in Section 6.4 of the Base Plan. This will include posting information on the website and utilize marketing and communications to get information to citizens and businesses.
E.8 Mitigation Actions
The City of Wheat Ridge has adopted the hazard mitigation goals and objectives developed by the Planning Team and described in Section 6.2 of the Base Plan.
The City had ten mitigation actions in the 2016 Plan, and has completed two of them:
• Maple Grove Dam operations plan
• NFIP/CRS/CIP/Stormwater Utility
The remaining actions have been carried over into the 2021 Plan, along with two new actions.
E.8.1 National Flood Insurance Program Recognizing the importance of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) in mitigating flood losses, the City of Wheat Ridge will place an emphasis on continued compliance with the NFIP. As an NFIP participant, the City has and will continue to make every effort to remain in good standing with NFIP. This
includes continuing to comply with the NFIP’s standards for updating and adopting floodplain maps and maintaining and updating the floodplain zoning ordinance as well as review of any potential development in special flood hazard areas.
E.8.2 Mitigation Actions The local planning team identified and prioritized the following mitigation actions for the City of Wheat Ridge based on the risk assessment. Information on how each action will be implemented and administered, such as ideas for implementation, responsible agency, potential funding, estimated cost, and timeline also are included.
Many of these mitigation actions are intended to reduce impacts to existing development as well as future development. These actions include those that promote wise development and hazard avoidance, such as building code, mapping, and zoning improvements, and continued enforcement of floodplain development regulations. Actions that protect critical infrastructure note which lifeline category is protected using the following abbreviations:
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Annex E. City of Wheat Ridge
2021-2026 Page E-25
COM: Communications
ENG: Energy
FWS: Food, Water, Sheltering
HAZ: Hazardous Waste
H&M: Health & Medical
S&S: Safety & Security
TRN: Transportation
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Annex E. City of Wheat Ridge
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Table E-16 City of Wheat Ridge Mitigation Action Plan
Number Title and Description Hazards Mitigated
Related Goals & Lifelines Lead Agency & Partners
Cost Estimate & Potential Funding Priority Timeline
Status & Implementation Notes
Wheat Ridge 1 Clear Creek floodplain mapping and master plan. Revise the floodplain maps for Clear Creek to reflect a 30% reduction in the regulatory flows that was approved by FEMA in Jan 2017. The revised maps will more accurately depict the actual flood risk for properties along Clear Creek resulting in many properties that were added to the floodplain in 2014 being removed.
Flood 2; COM, S&S, TRN
Community Development & MHFD
$100,000 from Wheat Ridge 2015; IGA with MHFD
High 2024 In Progress. The FHAD will be finalized in 2021 with the PMR process starting soon after.
Wheat Ridge 2 Sloan’s Lake floodplain mapping and master plan. Revise the floodplain maps for the Sloan's Lake basin to reflect the updated FHAD that was completed in 2019. The revised maps will more accurately depict the actual flood risk for properties.
Flood 2; S&S, TRN Community Development & MHFD
$17,000 from Wheat Ridge; 2016 IGA with MHFD.
Low 2024 In Progress. PMR process starting in 2021.
Wheat Ridge 3 Stormwater CIP - Wadsworth and 35th drainage improvements. As a part of the Wadsworth Widening project, the 1950 storm sewer will be replaced with a larger capacity system that includes a water quality pond before discharging into Clear Creek.
Flood 2; TRN Community Development & CDOT.
$8 million from Wheat Ridge, $63 million widening project. 2015 IGA with CDOT
High 2023 In Progress Construction starting in 2021.
Wheat Ridge 4 Improve Wheat Ridge CRS rating to a Class 4. Wheat Ridge is currently a Class 5 CRS community with residents in the floodplain receiving a 25% discount on their flood insurance premiums. Improving to a Class 4 would result in a 30% savings. The additional program elements in order to raise the rating results in the community being more aware, better prepared, and more resilient from flooding.
Flood 2; S&S Community Development Ongoing operation. City General Fund
Medium Pending completion of new maps.
Not Started. Awaiting new maps for both Clear Creek and Lena Gulch to start preparing a WMP, a Class 4 prerequisite.
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Annex E. City of Wheat Ridge
2021-2026 Page E-27
Number Title and Description Hazards Mitigated
Related Goals & Lifelines Lead Agency & Partners
Cost Estimate & Potential Funding Priority Timeline
Status & Implementation Notes
Wheat Ridge 5 Floodplain Projects – Clear Creek and Lena Gulch. After the master plans are completed for Clear Creek and Lena Gulch, implement identified projects to reduce flooding and/or maintenance.
Flood 2; COM, S&S, TRN
Community Development & MHFD.
$1.5 million for Lena Gulch and $3 million for Clear Creek; City General Fund & MHFD
Medium Pending completion of new maps
Not Started. Awaiting new maps and masterplans for both Clear Creek and Lena Gulch.
Wheat Ridge 6 Become a Storm Ready Program Community. Participate with Jefferson County in becoming Storm Ready Communities.
Extreme Temps, Hailstorm, Lightning, Severe Winter Storms, Tornado,Windstorm
1,2,3; COM, S&S Community Development Department
TBD Low Unknown Not Started.
Wheat Ridge 7 Channel 8/Website Updates. Provide general, non-emergency information to help plan, mitigate, and cope with the ongoing nature of hazards.
Avalanche; Cyber; Dam Failure; Drought; Earthquake; Erosion/ Deposition; Expansive Soils; Extreme Temps; Flood; Hailstorm; Landslides; Lightning; Pandemic; Winter Storms; Subsidence; Tornado; Wildfire; Windstorm
1; COM, S&S Administration Services Minimal; City General Fund
Medium Ongoing Annual Implementation
Wheat Ridge 8 Stormwater Program and Maintenance Operations. Manage the federally mandated stormwater program to minimize pollutants entering waterways. Maintain the City's stormwater facilities to reduce the risk of flooding.
Erosion and Deposition 2; COM, ENG, FWS, HAZ, H&M, S&S, TRN
Community Development & Public Works
Ongoing operation; City General Fund
Medium Ongoing and implemented annually dependent on funding.
Annual Implementation
Wheat Ridge 9 Lena Gulch floodplain mapping and master plan. Revise the floodplain maps for Lena Gulch to reflect updated flows. The revised maps will
Flood 2; COM, ENG, FWS, HAZ, H&M, S&S, TRN
Community Development & MHFD.
$30,000 from Wheat Ridge; 2021 IGA with MHFD.
High 2024 New in 2021. The FHAD will be finalized in 2022 with the PMR process starting soon after.
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Annex E. City of Wheat Ridge
2021-2026 Page E-28
Number Title and Description Hazards Mitigated
Related Goals & Lifelines Lead Agency & Partners
Cost Estimate & Potential Funding Priority Timeline
Status & Implementation Notes
more accurately depict the actual flood risk for properties along Lena Gulch.
Wheat Ridge 10
Streetscape Conversion to Xeriscape. Replace existing sod based streetscape with native, drought-tolerant xeriscape plan materials. The landscaping that will be installed with the Wadsworth Widening project will serve as a pilot project.
Drought; Extreme Temperatures 2; COM, ENG, FWS, HAZ, H&M, S&S, TRN
Community Development; Parks
Implemented with new projects; City General Fund
Low Ongoing and implemented annually.
New in 2021. Pilot project with Wadsworth Widening.
Memorandum
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Patrick Goff, City Manager
DATE: June 16, 2021 (for June 21 study session)
SUBJECT: Strategic Priority – Localworks Mission, Vision, and Funding
ISSUE:
At the strategic planning retreat on February 20, 2021, City Council identified the need for a
discussion about the mission, vision and funding of Localworks. Staff is requesting feedback on a proposed workplan to realize this priority.
UNDERSTANDING THE PRIORITY:
City Council authorized the formation of Wheat Ridge 2020, now Localworks, in 2005 as a non-
profit corporation, for the purpose of assisting the City in bringing about community revitalization and setting the direction for and implementing the nine strategies contained within the Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy Repositioning Wheat Ridge report. Localworks’ current mission is to advance Wheat Ridge as a vibrant and sustainable community. As many
years have passed since the original incorporation of Localworks and the City has changed in
many ways since that time, City Council will review its current relationship with Localworks to determine the best way for this partnership to grow in the future.
HISTORY, BACKGROUND, AND CURRENT CONDITIONS:
Localworks was formed in 2005 as a result of the first Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy.
Formed as Wheat Ridge 2020 and later rebranded to Localworks, the organization was formed to be a partner with the City and community to advance Wheat Ridge as a vibrant and sustainable community through the development of specific implementation strategies to reposition the City of Wheat Ridge as a great place to live, work and play.
The Articles of Incorporation for Localworks include the following:
1. Developing and supporting collaborative actions to increase investment in thehomes and businesses in the community.
2. Sponsor projects and events to encourage greater community pride and local
leadership.3. Promote an improved image for Wheat Ridge.4. Encourage better maintenance of businesses, homes, and farms; and5. Develop and implement methods to prevent community deterioration.
When Wheat Ridge 2020 was formed in 2005, the original intent was for the City to fund the organization $1.5 million annually for a minimum of five years. Actual funding for the first five
Item No. 2
years of Wheat Ridge 2020’s existence was as follows:
2005 - $415,000
2006 - $1,000,000 2007 - $1,500,000 2008 - $1,500,000 2009 - $500,000
Unfortunately, due to the economic conditions in the country and Wheat Ridge in 2008 and 2009, funding was cut dramatically by 2/3rd in 2009 to $500,000. The attached memorandum from April 17, 2009 explains the rational for the decrease in funding and the shift in Wheat Ridge 2020’s mission at that time. Annual funding for Wheat Ridge 2020/Localworks since that
time has been between $300,000 and $500,000.
A summary of current programs, practices and initiatives follows. 1. Developing and supporting collaborative actions to increase investment in the homes
and businesses in the community.
Localworks currently offers the Building Up Business Loan program which provides low interest loans to Wheat Ridge businesses. These loan funds can be used for both external and internal project needs which fills a much-needed gap in funding options for small business owners. To date 14 loans have been made with a total investment of $574,000 by Localworks.
Localworks currently offers the Home Improvement Program which is a low interest home loan program designed to benefit Wheat Ridge homeowners in making improvements to the housing stock in Wheat Ridge. These loans have been used to upgrade kitchens and bathrooms, upgrade electrical and plumbing systems, and address outdated housing elements. To date, 19 loans have
been made with a total investment of $407,000 by Localworks.
In 2020, Localworks offered the Adapt-ABILITY Loan program to assist Wheat Ridge business owners with shifting their business operations to adapt to the Covid-19 pandemic and the related shut downs. Seven businesses took advantage of this loan program.
In 2020, Localworks managed and administered the BRAP - Business Re-Opening Assistance Program for the City of Wheat Ridge. This program supported 19 businesses with over $100,000 of CARES funds invested in our local businesses.
Localworks seeks to be nimble in their approach to business and resident efforts in order to increase
investment in homes and businesses in Wheat Ridge. 2. Sponsor projects and events to encourage greater community pride and local leadership.
In 2016 through 2018, Localworks produced three cohorts of the Wheaties Academy which
resulted in the training of 70 community members in how to bring about effective change in the community. After the conclusion of the Wheaties Academy, Localworks and the City of Wheat Ridge partnered to create Wheat Ridge 101 which combines leadership training with a solid grounding in how the City of Wheat Ridge operates. This type of knowledge empowers our
residents to understand how cities are funded, how and where choices can be made, and how to
effectively use their voice to be part of effective City operations and change within the
community.
Localworks works closely with local businesses to produce events that bring the community
together to celebrate Wheat Ridge’s unique and special character. These events include the Holiday Celebration, Trunk or Treat, Movies on the Ridge, Live Local programming, Fitness in the Park, Cruiser Rides, and new events such as Chalk of the Town and this year’s Porches and Patios. These events are specifically designed to encourage community pride. Additionally,
Localworks has also produced larger scale events designed to draw people from the Denver
metro area to Wheat Ridge. These events include the Criterium and Ridgefest. 3. Promote an improved image for Wheat Ridge. Localworks uses their extensive email list and social media reach to promote and position Wheat
Ridge as a great place to live, work and play. Email subscriptions have increased as a result of
utilizing the NextDoor platform at the beginning of 2021. Social media reach and engagement has been making steady increases and is largely the result of promotion of local businesses, local business events, and community events that connect with residents.
4. Encourage better maintenance of businesses, homes, and farms.
Localworks is a partner in the management and administration of the TLC Program which is a partnership with the Wheat Ridge Police Department. TLC – Traffic, Life Safety, and Crime Reduction – is a program that addresses code enforcement issues, increases neighborhood safety through community connections, and increases community pride through property maintenance.
The TLC program has three key components:
• Four Community-Wide Dumpster Days. Residents have access to free dumpsters as a way to remove junk and debris from Wheat Ridge neighborhoods.
• Neighborhood Dumpster Grants. Residents can partner with their neighbors to have a dumpster provided for the removal of junk and debris in their identified neighborhood. This program builds community connections within neighborhoods and assists with increasing neighborhood safety.
• Neighborhood Block Party Grants. Residents can access this grant program and receive funds to use towards a block party where they meet their neighbors and build connections within their neighborhood. These connections are important because they build social health of the participants and increase neighborhood safety because people watch out for people they know.
5. Develop and implement methods to prevent community deterioration. The business and home loan programs and TLC program are key ways that Localworks has worked to prevent community deterioration. In the past when economic conditions warranted, Localworks also undertook the purchase and renovation of distressed houses thus ensuring continued investment
in the Wheat Ridge community. IDEAS FOR NEW ACTIVITIES: To further support the City and the Wheat Ridge community with programs to advance the City as a vibrant and sustainable community, Localworks adopted a new Strategic Plan in 2020. This plan sets
forth a clear vision for programs to ensure achievement of the mission and vision of the organization
and include the following:
● Localworks is a resource for the community and the City by providing opportunities
for engagement, volunteerism, connection and education.
o Localworks is working closely with the City on the new Wheat Ridge 101
leadership and education program. Localworks worked in parternship with the
City in the development and administration of the first program and will be
working closely to administer the 2021 program.
o In early 2021, Localworks launched a new volunteer registration platform. This
has resulted in a 30% increase in volunteers who are seeking opportunities to
volunteer and connect in the Wheat Ridge community.
o Localworks has provided new ways for volunteers to engage in the community
including new community clean up days which were developed in response to
concerns and ideas heard in the Let’s Talk Neighborhood Engagement process.
Localworks is exploring additional volunteer opportunities including
neighborhood walk leaders, an expanded block captain program, and home
improvement assistance.
● Localworks is a resource for local businesses and the City through programs that
provide opportunities for growth, promotion, positioning, and community
connection.
o Localworks is actively marketing the Building Up Business Loan program. The
most recent loan recipient is the new Montessori school going in at 6101 W. 38th.
This loan closed in early May.
o Localworks has developed a new Bridge Loan product. This loan will provide
up-front funds to applicants who are undertaking projects and have a signed
reimbursement agreement with the City of Wheat Ridge’s Urban Renewal
Authority.
o Localworks has worked to be nimble and flexible in programming to best fit the
needs of local businesses. This year’s Porches and Patios is an example of flexing
programming to meet changing public health requirements. The goal of the
program is to bring the community and businesses together to celebrate what is
special and unique about Wheat Ridge.
o Localworks is exploring a new loan product which would provide business
owners with funds to enhance their marketing and outreach efforts. This need
was identified as a result of the Adapt-ABILITY loan program that Localworks
offered at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic.
o Localworks has facilitated the creation of the 38th Avenue Business Collaborative.
This purpose of this group is to develop ideas for programs and placemaking
events and to coordinate the innovative ideas of the business owners along the
corridor.
● Localworks is fiscally stable and healthy so as to deliver programs and weather all
challenges.
o Localworks has spent the past year analyzing events to identify cost savings and
partnerships with the goal of decreasing the cost of the events and increasing
financial partnership (sponsorships, in-kind, cash support).
o Localworks has spent the past year streamlining operations and identifying ways
to decrease costs associated with delivering community and business programs.
Their approved 2021 budget represented an 18% reduction from the previous
year’s approved budget.
o Localworks is actively working on a strategy to leverage current financial assets
to provide both value to the Wheat Ridge community and the organization. At the
September City Council presentation, Localworks discussed the creation of a
makerspace in Wheat Ridge. They briefly considered the temporary creation of
one in the City owned Midas property located at 38th and Wadsworth.
Unfortunately, this building needed extensive upgrades to accommodate this type
of use and with a three-year limitation on the use of the building, the return on
investment was not acceptable. At the end of May, Localworks entered into an
agreement with TinkerMill, a makerspace located in Longmont, to provide
assistance to Localworks for the creation of a makerspace in Wheat Ridge. A
makerspace is an entrepreneurial ecosystem that fosters the development of jobs,
business ideas and community creativity by providing access to tools (welding,
woodworking, machining, etc.), rapid prototyping (laser cutting, laser printing,
etc.), metalsmithing (jewelry, fine metal crafting), glassworking (lampworking,
glass fusion), and office space for entrepreneurs looking to bring their ideas to
fruition. TinkerMill, (and all 501c3 makerspaces), is a membership-based
organization that works closely with the City of Longmont’s economic
development efforts to encourage new products. TinkerMill is a powerful
advocate for entrepreneurship, science, technology, engineering, and art. The
makerspace business model aligns with Localworks’s mission and vision as set
forth in their articles of incorporation and their current Strategic Plan. The
makerspace business model will provide a revenue stream to support the
community and business programs that Localworks is known for and also support
and grow the business community and entrepreneurs in Wheat Ridge.
RECOMMENDATIONS: Staff requests direction from Council to move forward with activities to support this priority.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Localworks 2021-2023 Strategic Plan 2. Wheat Ridge 2020 funding memo, dated April 17, 2009
2021 – 2023
Strategic Plan
Localworks, the City of Wheat Ridge, and the Wheat Ridge community share a long-standing partnership in the revitalization,
beautification, and engagement of the Wheat Ridge community. Through this partnership, Localworks has implemented business
loan programs, home loan programs, community engagement events, educational events, and community clean up and beautification
projects. In the last three years, this investment has resulted in 3 business improvement loans, 12 clean up days, 25 dumpster
grants, 62 community events, 8 regionally significant events to promote Wheat Ridge as an economically vital destination, and 12
events to train and empower residents and future leaders. Localworks brings together over 200 active community volunteers and
over 2,400 members to leverage resources to create a vibrant and sustainable community that positions and promotes all the things
that make Wheat Ridge a great place to live, work, and play.
The 2021-2023 Strategic Plan builds on the successes of Localworks, identifies strategies to enhance the fiscal stability of the
organization, and identifies strategies to effectively deliver valuable community programs.
Strategic Plan Overview and Path Forward
Principle One: Localworks is fiscally stable and healthy so as to deliver programs and weather all
challenges.
Goal 1. We are fiscally nimble and are actively seeking to leverage our financial resources to create value for Localworks and the
Wheat Ridge community.
Through strategic investments and prudent financial management, Localworks has developed financial resources that are now
poised to serve as means to create value in the community and enhance financial stability for Localworks.
Goal 2. We create partnerships that result in financial benefits for programs and the community.
Localworks has a history of successfully obtaining grants and sponsorships to support the organization’s programming related to
community building and engagement. These efforts will continue and expand in the coming years.
ATTACHMENT 1
Goal 1. We educate and empower our residents.
Community education and empowerment of residents is an area where Localworks has excelled. We have provided training and
opportunities for community engagement that have resulted in participants becoming elected officials and members of boards and
commissions. We have used a combination of formal and informal meeting formats to educate and inform residents on complex
community issues. We have provided forums where civil community conversations take place. This work is a recognized resource in
the community and will be central to the work of Localworks moving forward.
Goal 2. We invest in the community.
Localworks has a long history of investing in the community through a combination of loans for homeowners to improve the housing
stock and programs to clean up and beautify the community. These programs will continue as Localworks continues to invest in the
community.
Goal 3. We connect and engage our residents.
Localworks is uniquely positioned to connect and engage residents. Our history of providing forums for connection that are fair,
open, and civil has created a high level of community trust in our programs. These opportunities and programs will continue to
expand and grow.
Principle Three: Localworks is a resource for local businesses and the City through programs that
provide opportunities for growth, promotion, positioning, and community connection.
Goal 1. We promote and support local businesses.
Localworks offers unique programming that is designed to specifically promote and connect local businesses with the community
and the broader metro area. We use our community engagement assets to convey the story of the local businesses and enhance
their reach and connection in the community. This programming will continue and expand in the coming years.
Goal 2. We invest in local businesses.
Localworks has offered the Building Up Business Loan Program for over twelve years. During this time, this loan program has
facilitated the growth of 13 businesses and represents an investment by Localworks of over $573,000. These businesses represent
the character, nature and face of the community. Investments of this nature are central to the mission of Localworks.
Goal 3. We celebrate and promote the unique identity of Wheat Ridge.
Localworks offers programming and events that position and promote Wheat Ridge as a destination for working, shopping and
recreating. These events range from large-scale community events to events that highlight the unique character of the community.
These events will continue to be refined so as to bring the best possible value to the community.
Conclusion and Next Steps
As we move through 2021 and toward 2023, Localworks pledges to leverage resources to create value in the community, utilize
financial assets to create fiscal stability, facilitate connections and collaboration, serve as a conduit of information and resources
for all who live or work here, and unite and energize the community through effective engagement in order to advance Wheat Ridge
as a vibrant and sustainable community.
Principle Two: Localworks is a resource for the community and the City
by providing opportunities for engagement, volunteerism, connection
and education.
DRAFT 04/17/09
1
City Council’s Strategic Planning Retreat Recommendations on
Economic Development/Redevelopment in the City of Wheat Ridge
In light of the current economic conditions and funding challenges at the local
level, City Council discussed the topic of economic development and what they
felt the role of Wheat Ridge 2020 (WR2020), our non-profit redevelopment
partner, should be in the future.
First of all there was an acknowledgement of the contributions that WR2020 has
provided our community over the last several years. WR2020 has had many
accomplishments that have been of great benefit in positioning the City for a
bright future. These contributions include:
Through the annual Planning Academy and other community outreach
events, they have educated scores of citizens on the challenges and
realities of redevelopment for an inner ring suburb.
With the development of the Ranch Design Handbook, WR2020 has
provided much needed design assistance for current or future
homeowners thinking of reinvesting in their homes. The soon to be
completed Landscape Design Handbook will provide similar assistance
in repurposing the larger lots that many areas of Wheat Ridge have
with an eye toward water conservation and xeriscaping.
With the help of University of Colorado graduate students, WR2020
has helped look at how vacant or underutilized sites in our
community’s commercial corridors might be reinvented and
redeveloped to move us into the future. From those efforts we have
conceptual site plans for various sites along the Wadsworth corridor in
particular.
The Home Improvement Program (HIP) assisted a diverse array of
homeowners in many parts of the community to make reinvestments
in their homes in a cost effective manner.
Exterior façade grants to businesses on the east side of Wheat Ridge
have increased the attractiveness and image of the City.
In partnership with the Urban Renewal Authority, WR2020 has made
significant progress in positioning the vacant property at the S/E
corner of 44th and Wadsworth for a new mixed use development.
ATTACHMENT 2
DRAFT 04/17/09
2
City Council’s decision to reduce the City’s allocation to WR2020 has been a
function of the very challenging 2009 and 2010 City budgets that we are
experiencing. The City is forced to be very focused and strategic in allocating
our limited economic development resources.
We will continue to look for strategic opportunities to partner with WR2020 on
projects and programs as those are identified and as resources allow.
The City Council will be developing funding criteria used to measure the
results of the City’s funding commitment to the organization on a program
by program basis.
A City Council priority is to make sure that City funds are leveraged
whenever possible in WR2020 projects/programs.
Wheat Ridge 2020 will continue to play a valuable role in shaping Wheat Ridge’s
future – through their community activism and education, community
development activities, neighborhood building programs and their ongoing
business and homeowner loan and grant programs, which continue to have
revolving funding.
A consensus was also reached by City Council to reallocate internal economic
development resources to develop a commercial development/redevelopment
strategy.
The City Manager will develop a scope of work for what this reallocation of
services will look like.
The intended outcome is for the City to better position itself within the
commercial development industry to leverage partnerships that will bring
quality development to the City of Wheat Ridge.
Memorandum
TO: Mayor and City Council
THROUGH: Patrick Goff, City Manager
FROM: Christopher Murtha, Chief of Police
DATE: June 15, 2021 (for June 21, 2021 study session)
SUBJECT: Overview of Relationship Based Policing
ISSUE: Community Policing methods have evolved over the last 30 years and become the cornerstone of crime prevention and problem-solving policing efforts. While great strides have been made using
these methods, this model does not always meet all the needs of the communities in which it is practiced. Issues that have been highlighted during the past year, including civil unrest and distrust between police and the public, had some communities demanding that police departments evaluate current approaches to determine if better policing methods exist. With that idea in mind, the Wheat Ridge Police Department is pushing the bounds of Community Policing
through a new concept known as Relationship Based Policing (RBP).
BACKGROUND: Community Policing is based on the principles of partnership, transparency, and legitimacy.
These are important concepts that involve two distinct parts of the community coming together
to “create” a partnership and allow those partners to participate as well as view what the police are doing in order to be determined as legitimate. That approach has been somewhat successful and an advancement in thought over the types of policing models used in years prior. However, it is the belief of the Wheat Ridge Police Department leadership that the foundation of policing,
Community Policing, can and should be advanced using a concept that not only allows for
partnerships but demands that the lines between police and community are blurred to the extent that trusting relationships between the police and the community are built through collaboration to keep the community safe. It is only through better and more meaningful relationships that we can accomplish our goal to “be the community” and not just be a resource to the community.
The City of Los Angeles is widely credited with inventing and starting the concept of RBP. The concept is still in its infancy and it has not yet been fully developed to the point of reaching its maximum potential. The Los Angeles Police Department has seen great early success as it transitions to this next evolution of Community Policing. The Wheat Ridge Police Department
can create and advance the foundational principles outlined by the Los Angeles Police
Department and create a more tailored approach to policing in our community. That approach demands we find opportunity for engagement and relationship building in every interaction that occurs. The opportunity to understand the community and for the community to know its police
Item No. 3
Staff Report: Overview of Relationship Based Policing June 21, 2021
Page 2
department at a more individual level is a foundational principle. It is the core of the concept of RBP. We know that some of the concepts of Community Policing work, but we realize that the public is not satisfied, and the proof lies in the frustrations observed over the last year. It is our
belief that our success lies in a better, more trusting, and more deeply rooted relationship with
our community. CHANGES TO OUR CURRENT POLICING MODEL: Transitioning to RBP requires a change in philosophy and concept. It is not rooted in a highly
tangible product but rather it is rooted in the concept that most often is the cause for concern in
communities that are struggling with interactions between police and community members. That concept is trust. Can you trust someone you do not know? Can you trust someone you have never met? Can you trust someone that fails to reach out and connect? The answer has been a resounding no.
We will reach out and look for opportunities to make good relationships great, to make bad relationships better, to build relationships where none currently exist, and it will be the job of everyone, not just the Chief of Police, to go out and make that happen during our daily interactions. Even when we issue a citation or make an arrest, we will try, through respect and
communication, to enhance that interaction and relationship. We will look to drive down an
already low level of use of force by knowing the people we most often contact in a way we did not previously know them. We will measure our success not only through reduced crime, and reduced complaints but through proactive follow up to ensure that everyone is committed to the mission of this agency and that the mission is reflected in each contact.
At its very core RBP gets back to the concepts that existed when officers walked the beat and knew the people they worked for and with. It resonates a time when officers were committed to professionalism and to relationships. Wheat Ridge is already a leader in many of these areas, but we can’t become complacent. We hope to be a national model in policing and to lead the next
step in police concepts through our work within the RBP model.
ATTACHMENTS 1. Relationship-Based Policing – Police Chief Magazine
CRM
ATTACHMENT 1