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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-24-23 - City Council Meeting MinutesCity Council Meeting Minutes CITY OF WHEAT RIDGE, COLORADO 7500 WEST 29TH AVENUE, MUNICIPAL BUILDING  July 24, 2023  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. 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 6:31 p.m. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ROLL CALL OF MEMBERS Scott Ohm         Rachel Hultin          Janeece Hoppe Amanda Weaver     Korey Stites       Valerie Nosler Beck (virtual) Absent: Judy Hutchinson and Leah Dozeman Also, present: City Manager Patrick Goff; City Attorney Gerald Dahl; City Clerk, Steve Kirkpatrick; Director of Public Works Maria D’Andrea; Director of Parks and Rec, Karen O’Donnell; Director of Community Development, Lauren Mikulak; other staff, guests and interested citizens.  APPROVAL OF MINUTES • Study Session Notes of June 5 • Special Study Session Notes of June 12, June 26 and July 10 • City Council Meeting Minutes of June 12, June 26 and July 10, All of the above Notes and Minutes were approved without changes to any of these records. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Without objection or correction, the agenda stood as announced. PROCLAMATIONS AND CEREMONIES Catherine Kearney-Marinelli Day Mayor Starker proclaimed July 24, 2023, Catherine Kearney-Marinelli Day as she is the Executive Director of the Metro Mayors Caucus (MMC) and will retire after 28 years of service on August 2, 2023. Catherine has extensive education and has facilitated multi- jurisdictional regional compacts on energy efficiency, water conservation, health and wellness, and growth, and led efforts on Water Conservation best practices adopted by the Colorado Water Conservation Board. Catherine has also worked with the caucus since 1996 to identify and build consensus on policy necessary to implement statewide, regional, and local policy solutions. Catherine has also led initiatives such as $300 million + in low-rate mortgages and down payment assistance, 2015 creation of the Housing Stability Flex Fund, coordinated condominium construction liability reform, coordinated MMC efforts to promote the passage of Proposition-123 to provide funding for affordable and work- force housing, and coordinated Built-for-Zero efforts to eliminate veteran homelessness across the region. PUBLIC’S RIGHT TO SPEAK No one came forward to speak tonight, neither in person nor online. 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 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 address a public hearing (verbatim, if the comments do not contain lascivious language or unlawful hate speech) No comments appeared in WR Speaks for this session of Council. 1. CONSENT AGENDA CM Hoppe introduced the consent agenda. a. Motion to approve the purchase and payment of four 2023 vehicle replacements and the purchase and payment for installation of lighting and auxiliary equipment in a total amount not to exceed $256,559 Issue Each year, the city identifies a proposed list of vehicle replacements within the city fleet. In 2023, 16 vehicles were identified for replacement. Staff recommends the purchase of the following vehicles under various State of Colorado Purchase Agreements: • One (1) 2024 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD Pickup Truck with traffic control equipment • One (1) 2024 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD Pickup Truck with long bed • Two (2) 2024 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD Pickup Trucks with standard beds The total price of the four vehicles is $216,559. Staff also requests approval to purchase, install and/or relocate auxiliary equipment required for the operation of the new vehicles along with the installation of lighting, markings, and auxiliary snow removal equipment at a total additional cost of $40,000. Therefore, the total requested amount is $256,559. The funds for these purchases are budgeted in the 2023 Public Works Department budget for fleet replacement. Motion by CM Hoppe to approve the purchase and payment of four 2023 vehicle replacements and the purchase and payment for installation of lighting and auxiliary equipment in a total amount not to exceed $256,559; seconded by CM Ohm. Motion carried unanimously 5-0. PUBLIC HEARINGS AND ORDINANCES ON SECOND READING 2. Council Bill No. 17-2023 – An Ordinance reappointing Presiding Municipal Judge Christopher Randall and approving a Presiding Municipal Judge Services Agreement. CM Ohm introduced Council Bill 17-2023 Issue The City’s Home Rule Charter provides for appointment of the Municipal Court Judge for a term of two years. The current term of Presiding Judge Christopher Randall expired on June 30, 2023. Staff Presentation City Manager Patrick Goff introduced City Attorney Dahl, who commented on the proposed contract renewal and Judge Randall’s excellent performance under prior contracts. Judge Randall reported that he is now the senior municipal judge in the Front Range, following more than 20 years of service. He also recounted how the Court functioned during the pandemic. The Judge also discussed changes in the recent few years that have added to his list of duties and the number of Court sessions held each week. Afterwards he stood by to answer any questions. Public Comment No citizens appeared in chambers to address this issue. There were none who wanted to speak through the Zoom format. Council Questions and comments CM made several comments in support of the motion, recognizing Judge Randall for his excellent service and sterling reputation. MPT Stites asked whether the current budget for Homeless Court is still adequate; Mr. Goff replied that there are budgeted funds. CM Ohm asked whether WR has a juvenile court session; Judge Randall answered affirmatively and described the operations of that court session. Motion by CM Ohm to approve Council Bill 17-2023 – an ordinance reappointing Presiding Municipal Judge Christopher Randall and approving a presiding Municipal Judge Services Agreement, seconded by MPT Stites, motion carried 5-0. During discussion of the motion, CM Hultin recalled her first visit to WR Court shortly after she moved to our City. She was so impressed she was motivated to get involved in community organizing and council membership. MPT Stites opined that the longevity of the Court staff is a strong indicator of how well Judge Randall leads his department. CM Hoppe discussed how two of her children had to appear in traffic court, one in WR and the other in a different municipality. She opined that the experience in WR was far superior. PUBLIC HEARINGS AND ORDINANCES ON FIRST READING 3. Council Bill 18-2023 – An Ordinance approving the sale of certain property owned by the City located at 7575 W. 44th Avenue CM Hultin introduced Council Bill 17-2023 Issue The City purchased the Bank of the West property located at 7525 W. 44th Avenue in January 2021 for right-of-way required for the Improve Wadsworth project. After the necessary right-of-way was dedicated for the Wadsworth project, a remnant parcel of 15,435 square feet and a structure remains. Foothills Regional Housing (FRH) has made a request to the City to contribute this parcel for inclusion into The Ives affordable housing development project. Staff Presentation There was none Public Comment There was none Council Questions and comments Nothing tonight Motion by CM Hultin to approve Council Bill 18-2023 – an ordinance approving the sale of certain property owned by the City located at 7575 W. 44th Avenue, on first reading, order it published, public hearing set for Monday, August 14, 2023 at 6:30 p.m. as a virtual meeting and in City Council Chambers and that it take effect immediately upon adoption, seconded by CM Hoppe, motion carried 5-0. DECISIONS, RESOLUTIONS AND MOTIONS There were none tonight. CITY MANAGER’S MATTERS Nothing tonight CITY ATTORNEY’S MATTERS Nothing tonight ELECTED OFFICIALS’ MATTERS CM Nosler Beck expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to join online this evening. As she undergoes medical treatment for cancer she is still online and available to our residents. She recognized the Parks and Recreation staff efforts to support a swim meet upcoming soon at Anderson Park. CM Hultin was happy to see the grant for $950,000 from the Federal Government for trail improvements. She asked whether the City has a program to replace electric vehicles (EV) as they age. Ms. D’Andrea discussed the City’s policy and practices regarding EV. She also opined that it is time to give recognition to the Municipal Court staff who have been with the City for 20, 30 or, in one case, 40 years. CM Ohm recently traveled to Europe and noted the number of round-about traffic junctions and how they keep traffic moving and strongly suggested we consider more of them in WR. He congratulated Parks and Rec for their outstanding effort to hire enough lifeguards. WR Cyclery has two different group rides on Monday afternoons. CM Stites cut the ribbon for the WR Business Association last week as they opened a new facility. Congratulations to the Association. The Mayor, CM Hutchinson and he attended an opening of a Bundt cake shop at Gold’s Marketplace. Mayor Starker echoed MPT Stites comments and asked all to drive carefully. ADJOURN TO SPECIAL STUDY SESSION The meeting adjourned at 7:08 pm. APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL ON August 14, 2023 _________________________________ Steve Kirkpatrick, City Clerk _________________________________ Korey Stites, 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.