HomeMy WebLinkAbout02.05.24 - Study Session NotesCITY OF WHEAT RIDGE, COLORADO
STUDY SESSION NOTES
Hybrid - Virtual Meeting
February 5, 2024
Mayor Pro-Tem Stites 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 of
Council were present in Council Chambers for this session.
Mayor Pro-Tem Stites 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, Jenny Snell, Korey Stites, Amanda Weaver,
Leah Dozeman, Dan Larsen, Janeece Hoppe (virtually) and Rachel Hultin.
Also present: City Manager, Patrick Goff; City Clerk, Steve Kirkpatrick (Virtual); Director
of Community Development, Lauren Mikulak; Director of Public Works, Maria D’Andrea;
Assistant City Manager, Marianne Schilling; Sr. Deputy City Clerk Margy Greer; 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. Waterwise Landscape Code Amendments
Issue
On June 5, 2023, City Council discussed waterwise landscaping regulations. Last year’s
memo and presentation provided an overview of waterwise principles, a summary of
other community practices, a summary of City’s programs and practices, and a
discussion of specific policy questions related to the City’s landscape regulations.
City Council expressed positive support and interest in waterwise landscape design to
reduce water consumption, encourage water efficiency, and establish stronger links
between water supply and land use planning.
Staff Reports
Landscape Planner, Janet Gassman, and Senior Planner, Stephanie Stevens presented
the issue and summarized background on the issue, where on June 5, 2023, City
Council discussed waterwise landscaping regulations. Last year’s memo and
presentation provided an overview of waterwise principles, a summary of other
community practices, a summary of City’s programs and practices, and a discussion of
specific policy questions related to the City’s landscape regulations.
Council consensus from June 2023 supported staff recommendations on several topics. Those items include:
• Irrigation consensus
• Artificial turf consensus
• Irrigated and non-functional turf consensus
• Landscape specifications
• Low-density residential requirements consensus
• Non-living materials consensus
• Waterwise design consensus
• Streetscape Design Manual consensus
• Maintenance consensus
Councilmembers asked detailed questions about several topics, engaging in discussion among themselves and with staff including:
• Several CM expressed their thanks for the staff efforts on this complex issue.
• A detailed discussion of the practical operation, legal requirements, and outcome
desires for resolving this issue took place.
There was consensus from City Council to move forward with the Code Amendments.
2. Facilities Master Plan Overview and Recommendations
Issue
Development of the Facilities Master Plan (FMP) included tasks focused on visioning,
data collection, analysis, and development of an implementation strategy to assess the
city’s space needs for existing and projected facility requirements. The FMP is intended
to be a “living document” that will be used as a planning tool. Therefore, specific moves
internal to city buildings, and between locations, that have been outlined in this plan are
preliminary. These moves and relocations, as well as the timing of such moves, need to
be revisited over time as actual versus projected growth is tracked and staffing levels
change. Each of the components of the FMP will require further fine-tuned analysis,
detailed space needs programming and design efforts to move from master plan to
implementation.
Key findings of the FMP include space deficits within most buildings related primarily to
recent and projected staff growth and to shortfalls in functional/operational areas in the
Parks & Recreation, Police, and Public Works departments. Staff will present the
process used to develop the FMP and the key outcomes identified as well as
recommendations on next steps for implementation.
Staff Report
Presentation on the issue was provided by City Manager Patrick Goff and included
items from the Director of Public Works, Maria D’Andrea and Facilities Manager, Daniel
Beiers.
Discussion included but was not limited to:
• The background of the issue
• The building condition assessment
• The estimated space needs
• Potential solutions
•
The group finished the presentation and stood by to answer questions.
CM had comments and questions:
Several CM and the Mayor thanked staff for the informative presentation.
CM engaged in a discussion and exchange of questions and proposals with the staff
and among themselves, addressing the use of the Master Plan.
MPT Stites proposed a consensus for City Council to move forward with the proposal.
Consensus was attained.
Staff Report(s)
No Report.
Elected Officials’ Report(s)
Mayor and Council Members reported on their various activities including ribbon cutting
ceremonies, their attendance at other agency meetings, and items of personal interest.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Starker adjourned the Study Session at 8:20 pm.
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Margy Greer, Sr, Deputy City Clerk
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Korey Stites, Mayor Pro Tem