HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-23-23 Special Study Session Virtual Hybrid FINALSPECIAL STUDY SESSION NOTES
CITY OF WHEAT RIDGE, COLORADO
City Council Chambers 7500 W. 29th Avenue
January 23, 2023
Upon adjournment of the Regular City Council Meeting, and after a short recess, the
Mayor called this Special Study Session to order at p.m.
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.
After calling the meeting to order, Mayor Starker stated the rules and procedures
necessitated by this meeting format.
Mayor Starker welcomed the Council, other elected officials, staff and interested
citizens.
The Mayor also explained the virtual/hybrid meeting format, how citizens will have the
opportunity to be heard, and the procedures and policies to be followed.
Council members present: Amanda Weaver, Scott Ohm, Janeece Hoppe, Rachel
Hultin, Korey Stites, Valerie Nosler Beck, and Leah Dozeman.
Also, present: City Manager Patrick Goff; City Attorney, Gerald Dahl; City Clerk, Steve
Kirkpatrick; Deputy City Manager, Allison Scheck; Assistant City Manager, Marianne
Schilling; Interim Community Development Director, Lauren Mikulak; Parks and
Recreation Director, Karen A. O’Donnell, guests and interested citizens.
Public Comment on Agenda Items –
No one came forward to speak.
Note about Wheat Ridge Speaks:
Citizens 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 citizens 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 include a public hearing (verbatim, if the comments do not
contain lascivious language or unlawful hate speech).
There were no citizen comments entered into Wheat Ridge Speaks related to this
session.
1. Open Space Management Plan Update
Issue
Through much of 2022 and into 2023, Logan Simpson worked closely with Parks,
Forestry, and Open Space staff to lead a robust process of obtaining feedback from the
Wheat Ridge community, staff members, and elected officials to inform the City’s
updated Open Space Management Plan (OSMP). Community and stakeholder input
provided a foundation for identifying preliminary recommendations and concepts to
carry forward in developing the draft plan.
Taylor Broyhill, Associate Planner with Logan Simpson, will review with City Council the
process, community engagement, and preliminary recommendations at the study
session.
Staff Report
Parks and Recreation Director, Karen A. O’Donnell gave a detailed report on the
OSMP, which included both the Community Engagement Summary Stage 1, and
Community Engagement Summary Stage 2,as well as background on the issue.
Where through a competitive process, Logan Simpson was selected to lead the Open
Space Management Plan update for the City of Wheat Ridge. Last updated in 2002, the
plan was in need of a refresh. The new plan looks to balance recreation use with
resource protection, while incorporating strategies for long-term sustainability and
stewardship
Taylor Broyhill spoke on the following topics as well:
Joint Open House
Virtual Community Focus Group
Online Interactive Maps
Trail User Surveys
Councilmember questions and comments:
CM discussed a variety of issues related to setting up the OSMP and how the City can
help
Mayor Starker proposed a consensus to direct staff to move forward with specific plans
and recommend action to the Council in line with tonight’s discussion.
Consensus attained.
2. Staff Report(s)
Nothing further following this item at the end of the regular Council Meeting.
3. Elected Officials’ Report(s)
The Mayor noted our progress on important matters this evening and thanked the staff
for their hard work.
ADJOURNMENT
The Special Study Session adjourned at 8:42 pm.
APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL ON February 13, 2023.
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Steve Kirkpatrick, City Clerk
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Korey Stites, Mayor Pro Tem