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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-12-22 City Council Meeting MinutesCITY COUNCIL MEETING CITY OF WHEAT RIDGE, COLORADO September 12, 2022 7:00 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 the City Council or City staff will be physically present at the Municipal building for this meeting. The public may participate in these ways: 1. Attend the meeting in person at City Hall. Use the appropriate roster to sign up to speak upon arrival 2. Provide comment in advance at www.wheatridgespeaks.org (comment by noon on September 12, 2022). 3. Virtually attend and participate in the meeting through a device or phone: • Click here to join or provide public comments. • Or call +1-669-900-6833 with Access code: 849 9102 2303 Passcode: 914841 4. 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 with as much notice as possible. Councilmembers present: Judy Hutchinson Rachel Hultin Scott Ohm Amanda Weaver Korey Stites Leah Dozeman Val Nosler Beck CM Hoppe excused herself for a personal obligation. Others in attendance: City Clerk, Steve Kirkpatrick; City Manager, Patrick Goff; Assistant to the City Manager, Marianne Schilling; CALL TO ORDER Call to Order Mayor Starker called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ROLL CALL OF MEMBERS APPROVAL OF AGENDA Approved as published. CITY COUNCIL AGENDA: September 12, 2022 Page -2- PROCLAMATIONS AND CEREMONIES • 2022 Constitution Week – 16-22 of September Mayor Starker read the proclamation, which reminded all of the birth of our nation through the ratification of our Constitution., PUBLICS’ RIGHT TO SPEAK a. Public may speak on any matter not on the Agenda for a maximum of 3 minutes under Publics’ Right to Speak. Please speak up to be heard when directed by the Mayor. b. Members of the Public who wish to speak on a Public Hearing item or Decision, Resolution, or Motion may speak when directed by the Mayor at the conclusion of the staff report for that specific agenda item. c. Members of the Public may comment on any agenda item in writing by noon on the day of the meeting at www.WheatRidgeSpeaks.org. Comments made on Wheat Ridge Speaks are considered part of the public record. Lee Recca, 4475 Brentwood – rose to ask that the City not grant a business license for a new gun store in her neighborhood, which is near a school and Anderson Park. She is concerned that making firearms available so close to these facilities represents a clear and present danger to the public. Any perpetrator could easily attack and then slip into the greenbelt making their escape much easier. These concerns might cause public fear of using their park. The City Manager introduced our new Manager of Public Works, who delivered a few remarks. CONSENT AGENDA NONE PUBLIC HEARINGS AND ORDINANCES ON SECOND READING 1. Council Bill No. 17-2022 – an ordinance amending Section 21-30 of the Wheat Ridge Code of Laws concerning performance warranty and guarantee for work in the public rights-of-way. CM Ohm introduced the item. Mr. Dahl recapitulated the reasons for this proposed ordinance from a Study Session. Public Comment No one from the public spoke about this item. CM Ohm made a motion to approve Council Bill No. 17-2022, an ordinance amending Section 21-30 of the Wheat Ridge Code of Laws concerning performance warranty and guarantee for work in public rights-of way, on second reading, and that it take effect 15 days after final publication.” Seconded by Stites. Passed 7-0. ORDINANCES ON FIRST READING NONE DECISIONS, RESOLUTIONS, AND MOTIONS 2. Presentation and acceptance of 2021 Financial Audit CM Hultin introduced this item. Ms. Scheck introduced Mr. Jean-Paul Chevalier, representing the City’s audit firm, who gave a formal presentation on the audit. Mr. Chevalier announced that the City’s auditor assigned a category of clean to this audit, which is the highest rating an auditor can assign. • Several CM recognized the staff for their outstanding work and the delivery of a clean audit. • CM had no questions or other comments. Motion by CM Hultin to accept the results of the 2021 Financial Audit. Seconded by CM Dozeman. Passed 7-0. 3. Motion to approve payment for Recreation Center boiler. CM Stites introduced this item. ISSUE The boilers at the Rec Center have reached the end of their useful operating lives and require replacement as we approach fall and winter. Ms. O’Donnell provided a detailed review of the situation and recommended expenditures to address this issue. CM Stites asked about long-terms plans for the Rec Center, and staff gave a detailed answer. Motion by CM Stites to approve the expenditure of $85,553 to Long Building Technologies for the provision and installation of domestic water heaters for the City of Wheat Ridge Recreation Center. Seconded by CM Weaver. Motion passed 7-0. CITY MANAGER’S MATTERS Mr. Goff thanked his excellent management team and staff for their exemplary work in keeping the City operational during the ongoing cybercrime incident. He reported how it began, how our IT professionals responded immediately and progress to date in restoring files and services. He mentioned some possible milestones for turning on various services. He revealed that the incident is a ransomware attack. Mr. Goff expressed our sadness and condolences to the City of Arvada and their Police Department upon the death of another Arvada Officer in the line of duty. City Attorney’s Matters Nothing tonight. ELECTED OFFICIALS’ MATTERS City Clerk Kirkpatrick announced that a referendum petition has ended the cure period and that the Office of the City Clerk is reviewing these submissions. More information will be announced as needed and timely. CM Nosler Beck thanked the staff for their outstanding performance during the current IT incident. She recognized Ms. Scheck for her amazing leadership during this time. She also discussed the neighborhood school closings announced 3 weeks ago. Three Wheat Ridge schools are on the list of closures. She asked anyone who wants to get involved to contact her or CM Stites. CM Hutchinson also thanked Ms. Scheck for her leadership. She sent her sincere condolences to the family of the Arvada Officer and the Police Department. CM Dozeman expressed similar thoughts and sentiments toward those affected in Arvada. CM Dozeman also thanked the staff for their hard work and leadership during the ongoing cybercrime situation. She the grand re-opening of Caesar Square, supported by $3.5 million in private activity bonds. She and CM Stites attended the ribbon cutting for that event and saw on a tour all of the hard work that so many have done. CM Stites echoed his peers’ remarks and condolences to Arvada and our gratitude to the staff. He commented on the neighborhood school closing, specifically about the process and the ways the public, PTA and families can influence the process. He expressed his concerns and disappointment with the Jeffco Schools and the process they are conducting, especially their lack of public input and their reliance on incomplete, irrelevant, and stale data. CM Stites and CM Weaver will have a District meeting at 9 am this Saturday in Louise Turner Park, and a dumpster will be available. CM Ohm supported and agreed with his peers’ sentiments. He also made comments about the Jeffco Schools closing plans. He told a story about two women whose lives were propelled forward when they attended Head Start as children. At a recent block party he heard comments from residents about the school closings. He attended a CML meeting recently, where a mayor from another city said a friend had recently moved to Wheat Ridge and loves our City. He read a thank you card he received from a constituent thanking the WR PD. CM Weaver thanked all the staff again. She repeated the details of the District III meeting. She attended Topping Off ceremony for the new hospital at Clear Creek Crossing and a new business opening. She attended the 50th Anniversary celebration of the founding of Happiness Gardens. CM Hultin acknowledged the skill, devotion, attitudes and expertise or our staff. She also recognized Ms. Scheck for her outstanding performance. She recounted some pleasant times spent in Happiness Gardens. She is incredibly impressed with the quality of our staff and the outstanding people we continue to hire. District II will hold a district meeting with a dumpster this Saturday as well (44th and Brentwood). CM Hultin also enjoyed attending a recent event where the participants delved into designing affordable housing. Mayor Starker added his appreciation and thanks. He noted that the team that leaders here formed met the test. He also acknowledged the recent police death in Arvada. He thanked our officers for their work with us. He recounted several recent ribbon cuttings for new business. He thanked those who attended coffee with the Mayor last Saturday. Slow down when you are driving, especially around dusk. ADJOURNMENT The City Council Meeting adjourned at 8:00 pm. _____________________________ Steve Kirkpatrick, City Clerk APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL ON ________, 2022. ___________________________ Rachel Grace Hultin, Mayor Pro Tem Nov. 14 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 DVDs of the meetings are available for listening or viewing in the City Clerk’s Office, as well as copies of Ordinances and Resolutions.