HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-08-2024 City Council Meeting MinutesCity Council Meeting Minutes
CITY OF WHEAT RIDGE, COLORADO 7500 WEST 29TH AVENUE, MUNICIPAL BUILDING
April 8, 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 6:30 p.m.
All in attendance stood and recited The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
ROLL CALL OF MEMBERS
Jenny Snell Scott Ohm Rachel Hultin Janeece Hoppe
Amanda Weaver Korey Stites Dan Larson Leah Dozeman
Absent: None.
Also present: City Manager Patrick Goff; Deputy City Manager Allison Scheck; City
Attorney Gerald Dahl; Sr. Deputy City Clerk, Margy Greer; Director of Parks and Recreation, Karen O’Donnell; Director of Community Development, Lauren Mikulak; Grant and Special Project Administrator, Brandon Altenburg, other staff, guests and interested citizens.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Minutes not available for approval at this time.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Without objection or correction, the agenda stood as announced.
PROCLAMATIONS AND CEREMONIES
The City of Wheat Ridge declared April 14-20, 2024 as the week reaffirming the City’s
commitment to supporting the men and women tasked with enforcing regulations,
bylaws, and ordinances regarding animal control. Where animal care and control
personnel provide essential community functions by enforcing Animal Control laws,
protecting the public from diseases such as rabies, and educating the public on the
proper care of community pets.
Mayor Starker presented the proclamation to CSO Phil Shroeder. CSO Shroeder spoke
a few words about the animal care and control program in Wheat Ridge and thanked
Mayor Starker for the honor.
Crime Victim Rights
Mayor Starker proclaimed the week of April 21-27, 2024, as crime victims’ rights week where the victims' rights movement has resulted in the passage of laws at the local,
state, and federal levels that established essential rights for victims.
Mayor Starker presented the proclamation to Jennifer Griffin who thanked Mayor Starker for the honor.
Arbor and Earth Day
Mayor Starker proclaimed Monday April 22, 2024, as City Of Wheat Ridge Earth Day
Celebration as we are all caretakers of our planet and have an obligation to combat
climate change and environmental degradation to preserve the Earth's beauty and resources.
Mayor Starker also then declared Friday, April 26, 2024, as City of Wheat Ridge Arbor Day Celebration to encourage the community members and businesses of Wheat Ridge
to care for, enjoy and appreciate trees in your yard and neighborhood. He presented
the proclamation to Jim Roemelt, Forestry and Open Space, Benny Paiz of parks, the City’s Forestry and Open Space Manager, and Bob Timms of the WR Rotary. The Mayor and Council were thanked for recognizing Arbor Day and the tree planting done throughout the city.
PUBLIC’S RIGHT TO SPEAK
Bob Timm, a member of the Wheat Ridge Rotary Club, spoke about a Tree Grant they
Rotary received. They joined forces with the City to plant 18 trees on residential
properties in Wheat Ridge. He also spoke about the Rotary Club celebrating their 50th
anniversary this year, their scholarship program, and other activities.
Kim Calomino, a resident of Wheat Ridge, spoke to the increase of volume, cut-through
traffic on neighborhood streets, and increased failure to enforce the speed. She
suggested taking a larger look at the neighborhood and the cut-through traffic through
neighborhoods. She expressed her concern about non-enforcement of drivers going
over 10 mph. She suggested having a traffic advisory committee, public education, and
improving the ticketing process.
Kelly Blin, a member of the Wheat Ridge traffic advisory team, spoke in favor of many of
the traffic remedies in the City’s responses to the traffic issues. She made many other
suggestions and offered statistics locally and nationally regarding lower speed limits in
residential streets and measuring speed differently when it comes to enforcement.
Overall, she spoke to many traffic concerns that fall outside the scope of a regular traffic
study.
Cameron Falon, a resident of Wheat Ridge, spoke in support of the Council looking into
the traffic issues. She asked if Council would look at qualitative measures, not just
quantitative. She stated people are using her street as a cut-through and it is especially
dangerous when people are walking their dogs, children are playing, and more. She
stated she has seen semis and moving trucks on her street. She suggested a speed
bump be placed on her street, signage, and reduced speed limits would be helpful.
Candace Tomlinson, a resident of Wheat Ridge, spoke about the Lutheran Master Plan
and there is a big misconception about the Plan itself. She stated more public
education is needed before changing the Charter. Ms. Tomlinson also spoke to the
traffic issue and is hopeful that the Belair Neighborhood will get a grant for traffic
improvement on that street. She stated that not ticketing over 10 mph on residential
streets should change, and speed limits should be lowered in residential areas. She
stated she would like to have the NPP Program stopped because it pits neighbor
against neighbor. She also would like to see one focal point for traffic issues in the City,
rather than going through each department in the City to get questions answered. She
stated she would like to see a traffic advisory committee put into place.
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 were received from Wheat Ridge Speaks.
CONSENT AGENDA
There was nothing tonight.
PUBLIC HEARINGS AND ORDINANCES ON SECOND READING
There was nothing tonight.
PUBLIC HEARINGS AND ORDINANCES ON FIRST READING
1. Council Bill No. 06-2024, an Ordinance amending Section 26-109 of the Wheat
Ridge Code of Laws concerning Public Hearing letter notice.
CM Hultin introduced Council Bill 06-2024 and read the Issue Statement into the
Record.
Issue
Prior to the public hearing for a quasi-judicial application, the zoning code currently
requires that the City send letter notice of the hearing to owners and occupants within
600 feet of the subject property. The proposed ordinance extends this letter notice to
1000 feet.
Staff Presentation
There was none as this is a bill on first reading.
Public Comment
No one came forward as this item sets the date and time for the public hearing on this
ordinance at the indicated date and time.
CM Hultin made a motion to approve Council Bill No. 06-2024- An Ordinance amending
Section 26-109 of the Wheat Ridge Code of Laws concerning public hearing letter
notice, on first reading, order it published, public hearing set for Monday, April 22, 2024,
at 6:30 p.m. as a virtual meeting and in City Council Chambers, and that it takes effect
fifteen (15) days after final publication. It was seconded by MPT Stites.
Vote: 8-0. The motion carried.
DECISIONS, RESOLUTIONS AND MOTIONS
2. Motion to approve the public art selection titled “Mechan and Celestial Vines” by
Tyler Fuqua to be installed at the Wheat Ridge Ward Transit Oriented
Development project site.
CM Dozeman introduced the item and read the Issue Statement into the Record:
Issue
The Wheat Ridge Ward Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Project includes funding
for public art. The process for selecting public art is defined in the Public Art
Management Plan. Per this process, a public art piece by Tyler Fuqua titled “Mechan
and Celestial Vines” has been selected by an appointed committee for recommendation
to the Cultural Commission. The Cultural Commission reviewed the proposal and is
recommending this selection to City Council for acceptance and purchase. The
purchase price of $160,000 includes design, construction, installation, and
documentation.
Staff Presentation
Director of Parks and Recreation, Karen O’Donnell presented to Council the
background of the item where the policies and procedures for this selection are based
on the Public Art Management Plan adopted by the Wheat Ridge City Council. The
public art selection committee included a Cultural Commission representative, two
community representatives, a visual artist, an elected representative, a City staff
representative, and one site agency representative.
She stated that the Wheat Ridge Ward TOD project includes a pedestrian bridge over
the railroad tracks, a plaza on south side and a multi-use trail connecting the station
area to the I-70 Frontage Road, also that Mechan and Celestial Vines was selected
unanimously by the public art selection committee.
Karen O’Donnell introduced Kendall Peterson of ThereSquared LLC, who gave a
PowerPoint presentation regarding the selected artwork at Ward Road.
After the presentation she stood by to answer questions.
Council Questions and comments
Council Members thanked staff and the consultant for their hard work on the project and
spoke to their support of the artwork project.
CM Dozeman made a motion to adopt Resolution 15-2024, a Resolution authorizing the
Mayor to execute a license agreement and confirmation, grant, and conveyance of ditch
right-of-way and easement with the Lee and Baugh Ditch Company. It was seconded
by CM Ohm. Vote: 8-0. The motion carried.
3. Resolution No. 15-2024 – a resolution authorizing the Mayor to execute a license
agreement and confirmation, grant and conveyance of ditch right-of-way and
easement with Lee & Bought Ditch Company
CM Larson introduced the item and read the Issue Statement into the Record:
Issue: The City is currently working towards the design and construction of a trail
around Tabor Lake. The Lee and Baugh Ditch Company has legal rights-of-way and
easements to inspect, use, operate, maintain, and repair the Ditch adjacent to Tabor
Lake. This proposed license agreement would formalize and document the rights of
both the Ditch Company and the City in the area near Tabor Lake and allow the City to
install and maintain a non-motorized trail in this aera.
Staff Presentation
Director of Parks and Recreation, Karen O’Donnell stated that the reason this is being
done at this time is because in order to receive funding of around $450,000, they
wanted to be sure the City had a formalized agreement with the Lee & Baugh Ditch
Company. She stated it is the final step in receiving that funding.
City Attorney Jerry Dahl stated that the Ditch Company worked well with him throughout
the process of drafting the agreement. They made changes at his suggestion and were
very accommodating. He stated he supports the form of the agreement.
After the presentation, Karen O’Donnell stood by to answer questions.
Council Questions and comments
CM Larson asked if the Ditch Company was in favor or supported what the City wanted.
Attorney Dahl stated that he received no push back from the Company. He also spoke
to the construction happening during the non-irrigation season.
CM Larson made a motion to adopt Resolution 15-2024, a Resolution authorizing the
Mayor to execute a license agreement and confirmation, grant, and conveyance of ditch
right-of-way and easement with the Lee and Baugh Ditch Company. It was seconded
by CM Ohm. Vote: 8-0. The motion carried.
CITY MANAGER’S MATTERS
City Manager Patrick Goff reminded residents about the branch drop off location.
CITY ATTORNEY’S MATTERS
No report.
ELECTED OFFICIALS’ MATTERS
Mayor and Council Members reported on their various activities including ribbon cutting
ceremonies, their attendance at other agency meetings, and items of personal interest.
ADJOURN TO SPECIAL STUDY SESSION
The meeting adjourned at 7:51 pm.
_________________________________ Margy Greer, Sr. Deputy City Clerk
_________________________________
Korey Stites, Mayor Pro Tem