HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-21-23 - Study Session NotesSTUDY SESSION NOTES
CITY OF WHEAT RIDGE, COLORADO
Hybrid - Virtual Meeting
August 21, 2023
Mayor Starker called the Study Session to order at 6:32 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 Scott Ohm, Judy Hutchinson, Korey Stites, Amanda Weaver,
Leah Dozeman, Janeece Hoppe, and Rachel Hultin. Valerie Nosler Beck attended
virtually, joining during the discussion of Item 2 on the agenda.
Also present: City Clerk, Steve Kirkpatrick, City Manager Patrick Goff; Deputy City
Manager, Allison Scheck; Mark Colvin, Finance Manager; Lauren Mikulak, Director of
Community Development; Kathie Repola, Executive Director of the Lutheran
Foundation; other staff and interested residents.
Public’s Right to Speak
No one came forward 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. Presentation from Lutheran Foundation
Issue
Councilmembers Hoppe and Dozeman requested to add to a future study session a
presentation from the Lutheran Medical Center Foundation. Kathie Repola, Executive
Director of the Foundation came to the August 21 study session to provide such
presentation.
Presentation by Lutheran Foundation
Staff from the Lutheran provided a detailed presentation about the Lutheran Hospital
and the Foundation, supported with a multimedia presentation.
The presentation addressed the history of the hospital and the timeline of recent and
long past events.
The Lutheran Foundation asked the City for a donation of $25,000.
CM had comments and questions:
• CM thanked the Lutheran Foundation staff for their informative presentation.
• CM had questions about the future plans, and timelines, especially for the legacy
campus.
• CM had several questions about the request for a donation that would come with
naming rights.
2. Proposition 123-Affordable Housing Update
Issue
Addressing housing affordability is one of the City’s and State’s most pressing issues.
Colorado voters enacted Proposition 123 in 2022 that will make several hundred million
dollars available for affordable housing statewide starting in late 2023. For a project to
be eligible for these funds in Wheat Ridge, the City must file a commitment to increase
its supply of affordable housing over the next three years to the State of Colorado,
Division of Housing. This commitment is due by November 1, 2023.
Staff Reports
Ms. Mikulak gave a detailed presentation on the passage of Proposition 123 and the
implications and opportunities for the City. She emphasized that many details are still
forthcoming, but this is a significant potential source of funding to support the City
affordable housing efforts.
She also explained the requirements for participating, the actions the City and Council
would need to take to receive these funds, which statewide will total $500 million –
which will be distributed to municipalities and counties statewide..
Mr. Goff gave a forecast of about how many new affordable housing units the City
would have to create and the potential funding to support those efforts.
CM had questions:
• Will the affordable housing units the City has already supported and funded be
eligible for counting the number of required units? The answer is still unclear.
• How will cooperating with Jefferson County work in terms of funding and counting
new affordable housing units? Another answer that is still unclear.
• Does staff feel that the City can achieve these goals? Staff supported moving
forward.
• CM had questions about how the funding will work, what the funding will support
and similar key issues. Staff gave an answer, which again is subject to change.
• CM expressed their interest in pursuing this opportunity. Staff reported that this
funding is not a block but project by project funding.
Staff will return at a later date when more details and regulations are announced by the
State. Council will need to act in the coming two months, depending upon when the still
fluid details solidify.
MPT Stites proposed a consensus to move forward with staff’s recommendations.
Consensus achieved.
3. Telecommunications Occupation Tax
Issue
The City’s code regarding the taxation of basic local telecommunication services
requires revision. The current code is based on the false premise that Lumen (formerly
US West, Qwest, and Century Link) is still the primary provider of telephone lines in the
City. Based on this premise, competitors are charged a per line rate computed from
Lumen’s number of lines and the flat occupation tax paid by Lumen per ordinance 1997-
1072. Due to the rapid decline of land lines provided by Lumen, the per line charge to
other providers has risen substantially. Furthermore, the current code is confusing as to
how cellular lines are treated from a taxation perspective.
Staff Reports
The types and means of delivery of telecommunication services has evolved
significantly since the city enacted its telecommunication occupation tax code in 1997.
The current code does not reflect the status of the telecommunications industry nor is it
consistent with Wheat Ridge’s municipal neighbors. Staff recommends and update to
the tax code to ensure equity, simplicity, revenue preservation and ease of
administration for both telecommunications providers and City staff.
Staff gave a detailed presentation that addressed the history of this existing tax
including how the Wheat Ridge ordinance differs significantly from neighboring
municipalities.
Mr. Colvin provided a detailed and informative presentation on staff’s recommendations
for updating the City Code on this tax, to address the massive changes that have
occurred since the City last addressed this tax in 1997.
CM had questions and comments:
• CM thanked staff for their presentation and for their research into the minutia that
was required.
• CM commented that staff’s recommendation seemed like an obvious action the
Council needs to take.
• CM asked for some details about how other cities built and implemented their tax
programs.
• Will this change in the tax increase the competition among telecom provider?
• How did staff come to the per line rate? It seems like a high rate of tax for many
of our residents.
CM Weaver proposed a consensus to direct staff to move forward with their
recommendations and the draft ordinance in tonight’s Council packet.
Consensus attained.
4. Staff Report(s)
Mr. Goff had nothing further
5. Elected Officials’ Report(s)
CM Hoppe reported that the WR Farmers Girls Softball team is 2-0. Come participate if
only as a spectator to support young women’s athletics.
CM Hultin announced that things are going very well at Happiness Gardens as the
harvest begins.
CM Stites announced two upcoming District III meetings on September 16 and October
14. Locations and timing to follow.
CM Ohm announced a trash removal, litter clean-up that he attended recently.
CM Nosler Beck thanked all who worked on the Mid-Century Modern Home Tours and
all who attended a successful event, especially Local Works and the homeowners.
CM Nosler Beck also announced that she will not run for re-election to Council in
November. She loves the job and made a difficult decision to focus on her own
healthcare and treatments (radiation and chemo for cancer). She does not believe she
will have the energy to do both. She expressed her gratitude to all who have served
with her.
The Mayor thanked all of the presenters.
ADJOURNMENT
The Study Session adjourned at 8:08 pm.
APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL ON September 11, 2023.
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Steve Kirkpatrick, City Clerk
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Korey Stites, Mayor Pro Tem