HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-15-23 Study Session NotesSTUDY SESSION NOTES
CITY OF WHEAT RIDGE, COLORADO
Hybrid - Virtual Meeting
May 15, 2023
Mayor Starker called the Study Session to order at 6:30 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. A quorum of members (eight) of Council were present in
Council Chambers for this session.
Mayor Starker welcomed the Council, other elected officials, staff, guests 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, Judy Hutchinson, Janeece
Hoppe, Korey Stites, Leah Dozeman, and Valerie Nosler Beck.
CM Rachel Hultin excused herself.
Also present: City Attorney Gerald Dahl, City Clerk, Steve Kirkpatrick, City Manager
Patrick Goff; Director of Community Development, Lauran Mikulak, Director of Public
Works, Maria D’Andrea; Civil Engineer, Jordan Jefferies, Senior Planner, Engineering
Manager, Steve Nguyen; Neighborhood Engagement Specialist, Ashley Holland; other
staff and interested residents.
Public’s Right to Speak
None tonight.
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 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.
No comments appeared in Wheat Ridge Speaks for this session of Council.
1. Neighborhood Traffic Management Plan Update (NTMP)
Issue
The City has operated the Neighborhood Traffic Management Program (NTMP) since
the mid1990s with the primary goal of implementing traffic calming measures on
neighborhood streets. Two topics related to the NTMP are to be discussed:
1. A proposed redesign of the NTMP program, and
2. An update on how to deploy NTMP funds near Prospect Valley and Stevens
Elementary Schools as previously directed by City Council.
Staff Reports
Civil Engineer, Jordan Jefferies provided an update and background on the item where
the NTMP is historically focused on midblock speed control and is designed to allow
residents to bring safety concerns to the City’s attention. The NTMP is not designed to
address missing infrastructure, such as missing sidewalks. A discussion of the City’s
sidewalk gaps and approach to infrastructure investments is a future agenda item..
When the NTMP started in July 1997, the City had seven different street classifications,
and the three types of local streets were eligible for the NTMP. An engineering staff
person was fully dedicated to the administration of the NTMP. The program was
modified slightly in 2002 and suspended entirely in 2009/2010 because of the recession
and associated budget cuts. The NTMP was reinstated in 2014 as the program we
know today.
Since implementation of the 2014 program, residents have enrolled 53 segments in the
NTMP. Many of these segments were unable to meet the approval threshold or didn’t
qualify for improvements because there was no objective speeding issue; however,
residents were successful in obtaining approval to install physical traffic-calming
improvements on 16 segments from 2014 to 2022.
Other items spoken about included:
Current Process
Lessons Learned
Reevaluation of the NTMP
Redesigned NTMP
Revised Process
Approval Process
Predictable Annual Timeline
Councilmembers had questions and comments:
Several CM thanked Mr. Jefferies for his time and the update presentation.
CM asked detailed questions about City policy. How many projects will be
fundable and manageable per year? How can we speed up the process and
make input more accessible to all residents, including those who live in housing
other than the traditional single-family home? How will the petition process work
going forward?
Another CM question concerned the frequently observed high speed traffic on
our major east- west thoroughfares. Speeds on 32nd Ave, 38th Ave, and 44th
Avenue are often dangerously high. What can we do to reduce speeding on
these major arteries other than traffic calming humps and bumps?
Ms. Mikulak recommended more traffic flow counting and speed measurement to
better identify locations needing speeding control or traffic calming measures.
A discussion of the timeline from identifying a need to construction of traffic
calming followed.
CM also asked what will happen when some residents are opposed to a new
speed hump and the engineers believe it makes sense.
This issue is something that residents bring to CM attention frequently.
What happens if there are apartment buildings on a block? How will we ensure
input from apartment residents as well as nearby single-family and duplex or
triplex homes?
Using the traffic trailer, with speed sign, is a good idea.
How will we spread the word to residents across the City when we are ready to
roll out the redesigned NTMP?
CM asked detailed questions about how residents’ input will be gathered going
forward. CM thought that a 50% desire among neighborhood to have speed
controls is too low; perhaps a supermajority of 2/3 or 3/4 of the impacted
residents.
CM Hoppe proposed a consensus to direct staff to proceed with the redesigned NTMP
program, with more than a minimum 50% of nearby residents required for approval.
Consensus attained
Staff also responded to City Council’s request for Staff to take a proactive approach in
identifying safe routes to schools, particularly to Prospect Valley and Stevens
Elementary Schools, which will see an influx of students based on the school district’s
closure decisions.
Where staff is focusing primarily on safe routes for students from Kullerstrand
Elementary School (“Kullerstrand”) who will now be attending Prospect Valley
Elementary School (“Prospect Valley”) and from Wilmore-Davis Elementary School
(“Wilmore-Davis”) who will be attending Stevens Elementary School (“Stevens”).
Due to a focus on schools in the early years of the NTMP many areas immediately
adjacent to schools have already been treated with traffic-calming features due to a
focus on schools in the early years of the NTMP. Additionally, the streets immediately
adjacent to Prospect Valley and Stevens have adequate sidewalks. However, similarly
robust infrastructure for pedestrian safety is typically not present beyond a block or two
radius around the school.
In order to determine probable walking routes for the new school boundaries,
Kullerstrand/Prospect Valley and Wilmore-Davis/Stevens, staff reviewed and cataloged
existing traffic and pedestrian infrastructure including traffic signals, flashing beacons,
radar speed signs, rectangular rapid flashing beacons (RRFBs), and school speed
zones.
Summarized and spoken about were a series of improvements that were organized into
three classifications:
Immediate improvements which can be achieved before the start of the 23/24
school year to help make existing conditions safer;
Near term solutions that can address connectivity gaps in the next 2 to 3 years;
and
Long term investments that provide missing infrastructure
Councilmembers had questions and comments:
Several CM thanked Mr. Jefferies for his time and the update. They also
expressed their support for the proposed efforts to ensure students safely arrive
at school and safely return home.
This discussion focused first on the Kullerstrand to Prospect Valley transition and
then on the Wilmore-Davis to Stevens migration.
Another CM question concerned the flood water flows and how those will impact
plans for children to walk to school.
Shall we use a similar process to the redesigned NTMP efforts to gather
residents’ input on whether to construct sidewalks along side streets? Some
neighborhoods are split on whether a add sidewalks or want to keep the rural
environment with no sidewalks.
Flashing crosswalk signals are a help. Can we also look at additional signage or
other warnings for drivers to alert them to the child pedestrians in critical morning
and afternoon periods during the school year?
How many of our kids will have the option of school bus service? At present,
there is no information; perhaps we will need to adapt our plans once we have
more data. We may need to look at safe routes to bus stops where relevant.
A lot of parents and kids are very worried about these school transitions and
student safety. We need to continue watching.
MPT Stites proposed a consensus to direct staff to proceed with the immediate
improvements to be funded using NTMP dollars that were earmarked for improvements
near schools.
Consensus attained
2. Staff Report(s)
Mr. Goff asked Ms. D’Andrea for an update on a flooding incident near 44th Ave and
Miller yesterday. Overflow was escaping a settling basin on its way to the waste water
systems. Raw sewage was running into Clear Creek, so the City deployed all available
resources to manage and mitigate the situation. Ms. D’Andrea reported on the
blockages in the system outflow lines and how those were removed. The remaining
overflow will be removed with a vacuum and the entire area will be treated with lime.
Later the top layer of grass and soil will be scraped, removed and the area recondition
and re-seeded.
Foothills Regional Housing contacted us last week when they found an opportunity to
acquire a 24-unit apartment building. Foothills can purchase the building for much less
than the cost of building a similar facility. They have asked if the City has any funding
available to participate in the cost of that purchase. Mr. Goff recommended committing
$400,000 to help Foothills with this acquisition. He also explained who would be eligible
to rent there. If the City participates with funding we would have first right of refusal to
use 12 of the 24 units for our emergency housing use. This is a rare and unusually
good opportunity.
Elected Officials’ Report(s)
CM Nosler Beck updated the Council on recent Jeffco School Board meetings to
address further school closures at the secondary level. The Board has indicated that
they will listen to concerns of local communities and municipalities during this process.
More schools are likely to close, and we need to continue to monitor, attend and
participate to ensure that our voices are heard for the residents of Wheat Ridge.
CM Weaver asked all to take care when driving near storm water culverts and pipes
because farmers are clearing their drainpipes.
CM Dozeman announced that there are several events forthcoming that are listed on
the City calendar. For instance, dogs and cats can get vaccines at Anderson Park.
Lots going on in District IV this spring and summer.
Mayor Pro-Tem Stites thanked the Mayor for asking him to take the lead at Coffee for
the Mayor, which MPT Stites found interesting and informative. Remember: if you can
find it in Wheat Ridge, buy it in Wheat Ridge.
ADJOURNMENT
The Study Session adjourned at 8:26 pm.
APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL ON May 22, 2023.
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Steve Kirkpatrick, City Clerk
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Korey Stites, Mayor Pro-Tem