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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Minutes 08-23-21City Council Meeting Minutes CITY OF WHEAT RIDGE, COLORADO 7500 WEST 29TH AVENUE, MUNICIPAL BUILDING August 23, 2021 Note: This meeting was conducted both as a virtual meeting and hybrid, where some members of the Council or City staff were physically present at the Municipal building, and some members of the public attended in person as well. All eight members of Council were present in Council Chambers for this session. Before calling the meeting to order, Mayor Starker stated the rules and procedures necessitated by this meeting format. Mayor Starker called the Regular City Council Meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ROLL CALL OF MEMBERS Janeece Hoppe Judy Hutchinson Zachary Urban Rachel Hultin Amanda Weaver Korey Stites Leah Dozeman Valerie Nosler Beck Also, present: City Clerk, Steve Kirkpatrick; City Attorney, Gerald Dahl; City Manager, Patrick Goff; City Treasurer, Chris Miller; Administrative Services Director, Allison Scheck; Mark Westberg, Project Manager, Karen O’Donnell, Director of Parks and Recreation other staff, guests and interested citizens. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Without objection or correction, the City Council Minutes of August 9, 2021 the Special Study Session Notes of August 9, 2021, and City Council Study Session Notes of August 2, 2017 and August 16, 2021 were approved as published. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Without objection or correction, the agenda stood as announced PROCLAMATIONS AND CEREMONIES Mayor Starker read and presented two Proclamations: National Suicide Prevention Awareness Week – September 5-11 Samantha Taylor, Youth Suicide Prevention Manager, Jefferson County Mental Health came to accept the Proclamation. The proclamation focuses on both Suicide Prevention Month and Suicide Prevention Week, to use every available means to prevent suicides. The first celebration of these events was in 1975. The Proclamation encourages everyone to take action to reach out to their friends and loved ones to get them help when we think they need help. Ms. Taylor expressed her gratitude for the City Council Minutes August 23, 2021 page 2 Proclamation, but more so the message that the Proclamation sends to us all to be aware and helpful when we see the need or the possibility of a need. Constitution Week – September 17–23 The Proclamation celebrates the 233-year-old Constitution of the United States, which is the oldest and most comprehensive political document to protect individual rights and liberties, the rule of law and free and fair elections in the world. PUBLIC’S RIGHT TO SPEAK Second Opportunity for Members of the Public input on the 2022 Budget Development of the 2022 budget is underway. An important phase of this process is inviting the public to provide input to City Council prior to the presentation of the 2022 proposed budget. This public input opportunity is the second of two; the first opportunity for public input was during the regular City Council meeting on Monday, July 26, 2021. Members of the public are also able to provide input via the City’s community engagement platform at WhatsUpWheatRidge.com Julie DiTullio, Jefferson Center for Mental Health, 4851 Independence St., came to report on the Carnation Mile fund raiser held this past weekend. She thanked the volunteers, City staff and Councilmembers who made the event not only possible but also successful. She thanked Councilmembers who donated their discretionary funds to support the event, and by that generosity support the Jefferson Center. Note about Wheat Ridge Speaks: Members of the Public may visit the Wheat Ridge Speaks website and enter written comments of up to 1,000 words on any Council agenda item. The deadline for members of the public to submit comments is 12:00 Noon Mountain Time on the day of a Council session so that Council members, other elected officials and City Staff have time to review the comments before the meeting on Monday evening. The City Clerk’s Office transcribes those Wheat Ridge Speaks comments into these minutes, placing each comment along with the record for that agenda item, including items that address a public hearing (verbatim, if the comments do not contain lascivious language or unlawful hate speech). No comments appeared in Wheat Ridge Speaks related to this Council session. 1. CONSENT AGENDA Discussion began at approximately 7:14 PM Councilmember Nosler Beck introduced the consent agenda. a. Motion to award a contract and to approve payment to Mid-America Pool Renovation, Inc. for the leisure pool resurfacing in the amount of $125,000 City Council Minutes August 23, 2021 page 3 b. Resolution No. 41-2021 - a resolution amending the Fiscal Year 2021 General Fund Budget to reflect the approval of a supplemental budget appropriation in the amount of $33,534 for the 2020 workers’ compensation insurance premium adjustment c. Resolution No. 42-2021 - a resolution in support of an application to the Jefferson County Open Space Trails Partnership Program for Clear Creek Trail concrete, signage, and safety improvements Motion by Councilmember Nosler Beck to approve Consent Agenda Items a.), b.), and c.) Seconded by Councilmember Stites; motion carried 8-0. PUBLIC HEARINGS AND ORDINANCES ON SECOND READING None for tonight ORDINANCES ON FIRST READING Discussion began at approximately 7: PM 2. Council Bill No. 14-2021 - An Ordinance approving an Intergovernmental Agreement with the Wheat Ridge Urban Renewal Authority and in connection therewith approving the conveyances of real property to and from the City. Councilmember Stites introduced Council Bill 14-2021. The Wheat Ridge Urban Renewal Authority dba Renewal Wheat Ridge (RWR) owns property located at 7690 W. 38th Avenue which has been under active environmental remediation since 2013. The Colorado Legislature passed Senate Bill 14-073 which provides a state income tax credit for the environmental remediation of contaminated land. State law requires that the City both pay for the remediation and own the land to be eligible for the tax credits. The City has on an annual basis provided funding to RWR to pay for the environmental remediation of the property. This ordinance will convey the property to the City in order to obtain the tax credit certificate and then convey the property back to RWR once the tax credits are secured so that RWR can sell the property to the Wheat Ridge Corners development for future redevelopment. Motion by Councilmember Stites to approve Council Bill No. 14-2021 - an ordinance approving an Intergovernmental Agreement with the Wheat Ridge Urban Renewal Authority and in connection therewith approving the conveyances of real property to and from the City, on first reading, order it published, public hearing set for Monday, September 13, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. as a virtual meeting, and that it take effect fifteen days after final publication, seconded by Councilmember Hoppe, motion carried 8-0. City Council Minutes August 23, 2021 page 4 DECISIONS, RESOLUTIONS AND MOTIONS Discussion began at approximately 7:22 PM 3. Motion to award a contract to Concrete Works of Colorado for phase I of the Improve Wadsworth Project in the amount of $34,971,468.01 with an additional contingency of $1,500,000 for a total of $36,471,468.01 Councilmember Hultin introduced the motion. Issue The Improve Wadsworth Project was advertised for bids in mid-April 2021 and bids were opened on July 1, 2021. Staff is recommending that the lowest responsive bidder, Concrete Works of Colorado, be awarded a contract in the amount of $34,971,468.01, which includes the base bid, all four bid options, related water, and sanitation work and an additional $1,500,000 in contingency for a total award of $36,471,468.01. Staff Presentation Project Manager Mark Westberg, gave a detailed presentation on the advertisement, bidding and construction process, including the financial impacts and scope of work to be involved. Public Comment No one came forward to speak. Council Questions Councilmembers thanked the staff for their work long and hard work on this project. Councilmember Hultin asked what the plans are for resident education and community outreach focused on the plans and impacts of the construction. Mr. Westberg addressed the issues related to traffic on Wadsworth and detours through neighborhoods. The Councilmember then asked about specific methods to curtail diverted traffic during the construction phase, such as speed bumps and temporary signals. Again, Mr. Westberg gave a detailed explanation supported by an explanation of next steps from Mr. Goff. Councilmember Nosler Beck asked that the City prioritize and act on temporary speed limit reductions in neighborhoods especially near schools, to protect the public, especially our children. Councilmember Urban asked a detailed question about the $1.5 million contingency fund. Mr. Westberg explained who controls this fund and how. Councilmember Hutchinson asked about the estimated timeline to complete the entire project. Mr. Westberg gave a date of the end of 2023. City Council Minutes August 23, 2021 page 5 Motion by Councilmember Hultin to award, pending CDOT’s concurrence, and approve subsequent payments to Concrete Works of Colorado, Lafayette, CO for the Improve Wadsworth Project in the amount of $34,971,468.01 with an additional contingency of $1,500,000 for a total of $36,471,468.01, seconded by Councilmember Urban, motion carried 8-0. Councilmember Hoppe asked about when the hotline for residents will open; Mr. Goff answered this October. Councilmember Hultin thanked the staff for their hard work and for including bicycle pathways in both directions along Wadsworth. CITY MANAGER’S MATTERS Nothing this evening. CITY ATTORNEY’S MATTERS Nothing tonight. ELECTED OFFICIALS’ MATTERS City Clerk Kirkpatrick provided an update on the November 2, 2021 municipal election. Today was the last day for prospective candidates to submit nominating petitions to the Office of the City Clerk. One race, if all petitions are found sufficient, will have to candidates, Mr. Ihor Figlus and Councilmember Amanda Weaver. The other three Council seats and the Office of Mayor will be uncontested, unless write-in candidates come forth before August 30, 2021. Councilmember Nosler Beck announced the Mid-Century Modern Home tour, this Saturday, August 28 in person from 1:00-5:00 pm, and online August 28 through September 4. Councilmember Dozeman welcomed our youth back to their schools and asked the public to drive carefully. This Thursday evening Local Works will host any event from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at Clear Fork Cider along with a food truck offering street tacos. Councilmember Hultin announced that a local business, Rhythm Cycles, has moved to a larger building on 44th Avenue. She also thanked Councilmember Weaver for leading a community Regenerate Wheat Ridge event on bees and beekeeping as part of the urban agriculture efforts. Harvest Festival is scheduled for October 16th. Councilmember Weaver thanked our Parks and Recreation staff for all of their work and support of the Regenerate WR programs. She announced a dumpster day and district 3 meeting at Louise Turner Park this Saturday August 28 from 9 to approximately noon. Electronics and mattresses are ineligible for this program. Councilmember Stites echoed Councilmember Weaver’s announcement. Applewood is having an open house on Wednesday, September 1st. from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Trinity Church and Wednesday, September 8, also 4:30-6:30 p.m. at the Wheat Ridge Rec Center. These sessions will conclude the second phase of What’s Up Applewood, and all residents and other members of the public are welcome to attend. City Council Minutes August 23, 2021 page 6 Councilmember Hoppe reminded us that we have a 24-hour walk-in Crisis Center operated by Jefferson Center for Mental Health at 46th Ave and Wadsworth; at 4643 Wadsworth Blvd. The Mayor thanked the folks who put on the event last Wednesday related to bees and beekeeping, He wished Mr. Westberg and the Comm Dev staff good luck on the Wadsworth redevelopment project. Please, be aware that we have traffic diverted by construction in our City, so please, drive carefully, especially for our children. The meeting adjourned at 7:47 pm. _____________________________ Steve Kirkpatrick, City Clerk APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL ON September 13, 2021 ______________________________ Janeece Hoppe, Mayor Pro Tem The preceding Minutes were prepared according to §47 of Robert’s Rules of Order, i.e., they contain a record of what was done at the meeting, not what was said by the members. Recordings and DVD’s of the meetings are available for listening or viewing by contacting the City Clerk’s Office, as well as copies of Ordinances and Resolutions.