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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-22-2024 City Council Meeting MinutesCity Council Meeting Minutes CITY OF WHEAT RIDGE, COLORADO 7500 WEST 29TH AVENUE, MUNICIPAL BUILDING  January 22, 2024  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 Jenny Snell Scott Ohm         Rachel Hultin   Dan Larson Amanda Weaver     Korey Stites       Leah Dozeman Janeece Hoppe excused herself this evening. Also present: City Manager, Patrick Goff; Deputy City Manager, Allison Scheck; City Attorney Gerald Dahl; City Clerk, Steve Kirkpatrick; Director of Parks and Recreation, Karen O’Donnell; Director of Public Works, Maria D’Andrea; Director of Community Development, Lauren Mikulak, other staff, guests and interested citizens.  APPROVAL OF MINUTES • City Council Meeting Minutes of January 8, 2024 The above Minutes were approved one minor correction. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Without objection or correction, the agenda stood as announced. PROCLAMATIONS AND CEREMONIES Proclamation – Black History Month Mayor Starker recognized February as Black History Month where it is an annual celebration of achievements by Black Americans. Where recognition of their central role in U.S. history is given, and it is a time to reflect on the continued struggle for racial justice and equality. Swearing in of Senior Deputy City Clerk, Margy Greer Mayor Starker introduced Sr. Deputy Clerk Margy Greer and spoke about her accomplishments. City Clerk Kirkpatrick then administered the oath of office Ms. Greer into her new position, Senior Deputy City Clerk.. PUBLIC’S RIGHT TO SPEAK Elisa White, W. 39th Place, Wheat Ridge, called to seek help with the noise emanating from the shooting range on 38th Avenue in East Wheat Ridge. 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. CONSENT AGENDA Nothing tonight PUBLIC HEARINGS AND ORDINANCES ON SECOND READING Nothing tonight PUBLIC HEARINGS AND ORDINANCES ON FIRST READING Nothing tonight DECISIONS, RESOLUTIONS AND MOTIONS 1. Motion to approve an appointment to the Wheat Ridge District IV Planning Commission CM Dozeman introduced the Motion. Issue On September November 9, 2023, Dan Larson from District IV resigned from the Planning Commission effective immediately, to accept a position as a City Council Member. The vacancy was posted on the City of Wheat Ridge web site and promoted through various channels from November 13 to January 12. Applications have been compiled for the Council’s review so that the seat may be filled. Staff Presentation There was none. Public Comment No one came forward to speak. Council Questions and comments There were none on this item. Motion by CM Dozeman to appoint Michael Moore to the Planning Commission, term to expire March 02, 2026, seconded by CM Larson, motion carried 7-0. 2. Resolution No. 05-2024 – a resolution amending the 2024 Open Space budget to reflect the approval of a supplemental budget appropriation in the amount of $65,000 for the purpose of accepting funds from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment for Mile-High Youth Corps work along the greenbelt. CM Snell introduced Resolution 05-2024. Issue The City received funding from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) Supplemental Environmental Program for Mile High Youth Corps work in 2024. The funding was received in 2023 after the 2024 budget was finalized. A budget supplemental is required to ensure the funds can be used in 2024 for fuel reduction work along the Greenbelt. Staff Presentation Parks & Recreation Director, Karen A. O’Donnell gave a brief presentation which included the background of how for the second year, the City has received external funds for Mile High Youth Corps work along the Greenbelt. Sawyer crews facilitated a 6- week fuel reduction program in 2023 along the Greenbelt from approximately Anderson Park west to Prospect Park, which was paid via GOCO grant funds. In 2024, the Mile High Youth Corps sawyer crews will be back to manage the areas between Wadsworth Blvd. and Anderson Park and between Prospect Park and Youngfield St. through the CDPHE funding. Where in late August of 2023, the City received $65,000 from CDPHE to fund 2024-Mile-High Youth Corps work. The funds were deposited into Fund 32 revenue (32-520-00-549). This budget supplemental will appropriate these funds with the appropriate expense line for the 2024-Mile-High Youth Corps work (32-601-800-870) and she recommends the approval of this resolution to properly account for grant funds received in 2023. Afterwards she stood by to answer any questions. Public Comment No one came forward to speak. Council Questions and comments CM few comments as this matter is familiar to them. Motion by CM Snell to approve Resolution 05-2024 – a Resolution amending the 2024 Open Space budget to reflect the approval of a supplemental budget appropriation in the amount of $65,000 for the purpose of accepting funds from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment for Mile-High Youth Corps work along the greenbelt, seconded by MPT Stites, motion carried 7-0. During discussion of the motion CM Hultin explained why she strongly supports this motion 3. Motion to approve the purchase and payment of an International snowplow truck and an Elgin street sweeper in a total amount not to exceed $517,515. CM Larson introduced the Motion. Issue Each year, the city identifies a proposed list of vehicle replacements within the city fleet. In 2024, a snowplow truck and a street sweeper are scheduled for replacement. Staff recommends the purchase of a 2024 International snowplow truck, under a Colorado Department of Transportation agreement, at a cost of $159,617 and an Elgin street sweeper, under a Sourcewell Cooperative Agreement, at a cost of $357,898. Staff Presentation Director of Public Works, Maria D’Andrea presented details to Council on how the City vehicle replacement policy, revised by the City Council in 2011, is utilized to determine replacement eligibility. This policy provides replacement guidelines that consider long- term effective service life and costs for budgeting purposes. Among the guidelines considered are high/rising maintenance and repair costs, operating costs, excessive downtime of equipment, parts or service availability, poor utilization, etc. These two vehicles met the qualifications in the replacement policy. A snowplow truck (Unit #253) will be replaced with an International truck consisting of a tandem axle cab and chassis. This vehicle will likely not be built until sometime in late- 2024 or 2025 so the purchase of the snowplow equipment to outfit the truck is planned for the 2025 budget. A regenerative street sweeper (Unit #265) will be replaced with an Elgin Crosswind I Regenerative Air Street Sweeper. The existing vehicles will be taken to auction. Afterwards she stood by to answer any questions. Public Comment No one came forward to speak. Motion by CM Larson to approve the purchase and payment of an International snowplow truck and an Elgin street sweeper in a total amount not to exceed $517,515, seconded by CM Stites, motion carried 7-0. MPT Stites asked what will happen to the retiring vehicles. Staff answered that we will submit them to public auction. CM Hultin asked for clarification on some of the features and capabilities of the new equipment. CM Larson asked about the plan and timeline for the transition of equipment from the old to the new. Staff gave a detailed reply. CITY MANAGER’S MATTERS Next meeting is Study Session on February CITY ATTORNEY’S MATTERS Nothing tonight ELECTED OFFICIALS’ MATTERS CM Snell reminded all of the point in time count of people experiencing homelessness and how important this data gathering is. She also thanked and recognized staff for their efforts to orient her and CM Larson. CM Hultin reported that on February 2 there will be a special event at Happiness Gardens to celebrate the value to our residents. On Thursday February 8 there will be a meeting about pedestrian and cyclist safety. She recognized public works for their work after the recent snowfalls. She also reported on conversations with D II residents who are annoyed and worried about traffic patterns that changed with the new Wadsworth construction. She asked about ingress and egress to a shopping center in that same area; she expressed concern about the impact on those businesses. CM Hultin asked for another Counselor to sponsor a resolution supporting democracy and several CM agreed to support that effort. CM Dozeman recognized the WR PD for their excellent work in investigating the robbery and murder that occurred last in 2023 and congratulated them on their arrest of alleged perpetrators. She also expressed her excitement with an event on January 25 at 5 pm at Art Centric. Local Works will soon offer tours of the new Maker Space. She reported that she and CM Larson are planning several events to connect with the residents of District IV. She commented on the upcoming opening of new affordable homes later this month, at the Miller homes this Saturday, January 27, and her excitement to attend it. CM Larson thanked staff for the on-boarding orientation new CM received. There is a video on cybersecurity available to us all and he encouraged all to watch it. CM Weaver asked for staff report on the caller’s complaint about the Silver Bullet shooting range. She asked what we can do to help reduce the sound emanating from that business. Mr. Goff gave a detailed reply. CM Weaver also opined that the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo was a smashing success and a great turnout. CM Ohm will be attending the Maker Space tour even though he was there a while ago. MPT Stites welcomed Third Shot Pickleball to WR and explained why he could not attend the ribbon cutting. He was not available because he served on a jury recently in Jefferson County District Court and enjoyed it. If you can find it in Wheat Ridge, buy it here. Mayor Starker also thanked and welcomed Third Shot Pickleball. He also welcomed Margy Greer, our new Senior Deputy Clerk. He commented again on Black History Month in February and its importance to our city. School is back in session, so please, drive slowly and carefully. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 7:05 pm. APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL ON February 12, 2024 ______________________________ 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.