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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-07-22 Study Session VIRTUAL FINALSTUDY SESSION NOTES CITY OF WHEAT RIDGE, COLORADO Virtual Meeting February 7, 2022 Mayor Bud Starker called the Study Session to order at 6:30 p.m. This meeting was conducted as a VIRTUAL MEETING. No members of the Council or City staff were physically present at the Municipal building for this meeting; the public did not attend in person. Mayor Starker welcomed the Council, other elected officials, staff and interested citizens. The Mayor also explained the virtual meeting format, how citizens will have the opportunity to be heard, and the procedures and policies to be followed. Council members present Scott Ohm, Amanda Weaver, Judy Hutchinson, Korey Stites, Rachel Hultin, Leah Dozeman, Valerie Nosler Beck, Janeece Hoppe. Also present: City Manager, Patrick Goff; City Attorney Jerry Dahl; City Clerk, Steve Kirkpatrick; City Treasurer, Chris Miller; Chief of Police, Chris Murtha; Director of Administration, Allison Scheck; Director of Community Development, Ken Johnstone; other guests and interested citizens. Citizen’s Right to Speak No one came forward to speak tonight. 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). No comments appeared in Wheat Ridge Speaks for this session. 1. Disorderly House Ordinance Discussion began at 6:32 pm, Approx. :02 minutes into the recording of the session. Issue From time to time, a house or apartment will become the center of discontent in a neighborhood or apartment complex. Criminal activity and code violations will affect the quality of life in the surrounding community. Some of the calls for service that we see are assaults, narcotic violations, weapons violations, stolen vehicles, vehicle break-ins, excessive trash, weeds and unkept property. Police and Code Enforcement officers have limited ability to address individual complaints and violations. Due to multiple tenants, subletters and associated people, we are often unable to determine the suspect in the violation. We need the tools to address the underlying issues. The underlying issues are often related to property owners and/or tenants that are disengaged from the community. One group of tenants will leave and, another will come in and, the problems will begin again. More often than not, these homes have multiple, unrelated people living in them. Staff Reports Jonathan Pickett, Patrol Commander spoke on the item, giving background information on the current city ordinance they use to address the core issue of such residences is 15-26 Disorderly House. The ordinance addresses problems such as maximum occupancy, disproportionate calls compared to other residences in the area, and code violations. Items included:  Maximum occupancy  Disproportionate calls compared to other residences in the area  Code violations Mr. Dahl also gave information about Chronic Nuisance Ordinances (CNO) in other jurisdictions Staff recommends that the City Attorney and Police department continue this research and prepare options to add to or replace current Ordinances that would assist in addressing property owners that are unwilling to assist with keeping or creating a safe community. 2. Street Racing Discussion of this item began at approximately pm Issue Staff Reports Consensuses attained. Staff Report(s) Discussion began at pm, Elected Officials’ Report(s) Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember Clerk Kirkpatrick ADJOURNMENT The Study Session adjourned at 9:11 PM. APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL ON February 14, 2022. _____________________________ Steve Kirkpatrick, City Clerk ______________________________ Rachel Hultin, Mayor Pro Tem