HomeMy WebLinkAbout06.17.24 - Study Session notesCITY OF WHEAT RIDGE, COLORADO
STUDY SESSION NOTES
Hybrid - Virtual Meeting
June 17, 2024
1. Call to Order
Mayor Starker called the Study Session to order at 6:30 p.m.
2. Attendance
Council Members present: Scott Ohm, Korey Stites, Dan Larson, Janeece Hoppe, and
Rachel Hultin.
Absent: Jenny Snell, Amanda Weaver, and Leah Dozeman
Also present: City Manager Patrick Goff; Deputy City Manager Allison Scheck, Division
Chief Jim Lorentz, City Attorney Jerry Dahl, and Sr. Deputy City Clerk Margy Greer
3. Public’s Right to Speak
None.
Wheat Ridge Speaks:
There were no public comments from Wheat Ridge Speaks.
4. Wheat Ridge Siren Emergency Notification System
Issue
The Wheat Ridge Siren Emergency Notification System has reached end of life. The city is
no longer able to get replacement parts for the sirens. To remove and install a new replacement siren system has been estimated to cost between $1.5 million and $3 million. Staff’s analysis is that these systems have been replaced by more effective communication methods, such as Lookout Alert, which is the current cellular alerting system being used by
Jefferson County and the Jefferson County Communications Center Authority (JeffCom911)
Staff Report
Police Department Division Chief Jim Lorentz stated the current Emergency Siren
Warning System was funded by a 911 Authority grant and was installed in 2008. There
are currently 15 sirens throughout Wheat Ridge. He stated the technology has become
very outdated over the past 16 years and replacement parts are no longer
manufactured. He stated the sirens were activated once in the past five years for a
hailstorm, which only caused confusion amongst the residents. He suggested
implementing the Lookout Alert system used through JeffCom 911 to provide emergency
notifications directly to residents’ cell phones. The system is paid for through the cell
phone user fees.
Lorentz went on to state that it would cost to decommission the towers; however, the
annual maintenance fee would be eliminated from future budgets.
Council Comments
There was much discussion regarding the possible reuse of the towers or poles. City
Manager Patrick Goff stated staff would certainly investigate potential reuse.
Council reached consensus on moving forward with the proposal as presented.
5. City Charter Update and Modernization
Issue
Amendments to the City Charter to update and modernize the language, including
provisions to remove ambiguities, clerical errors, and outdated provisions, provide
additional flexibility in City operations, and ensure gender and citizenship neutrality.
Staff Report
City Manager Patrick Goff stated that upon approval from Council, staff performed an
exhaustive review of the charter and recommended changes in the following categories:
1) deletion of legacy and transitional text that addresses interim matters solely relevant to
the timing of the Charter provision’s original adoption; 2) updates to legal citations; 3)
updates for compliance with changes in the law; 4) references to controlling state law; and
5) recommendations based on current practices due to advances in technology and
practice since the Charter’s adoption. The suggested amendments have been
summarized by topic below. At City Council’s direction, these amendments are non-
substantive and staff is not proposing any major policy changes to the Charter currently.
City Council may consider a Charter Commission later to consider more substantive policy
changes to the Charter.
City Manager Patrick Goff took Council through the proposed changes one Charter
Section at a time, reviewing the “redline” version which was included in the Council Agenda
packet. City Attorney Jerry Dahl stated the rationale behind the recommended changes.
There were proposed changes to Gender Pronouns, Citizenship Neutrality, Legacy and
Transition Text, Sec.1.4 Form of Government, Section 2.4 Election Commission, Section
2.7 Recall Procedure, Section 3.4 City Manager, Section 3.8 Duties of City Clerk, Section
3.9 Duties of City Treasurer, Section 5.10.1c(3) Building Height and Density Limitations,
Section 8.4 Duties of the Presiding Judge, and Section 10.12(d) Amendments after
Adoption.
Council Comments
Council Members asked questions regarding the proposed changes which were all
answered and explained by Patrick Goff or Jerry Dahl.
Dahl explained that the proposed changes would need to be in the form of an ordinance
which would come before Council. He stated he would prepare a draft ordinance and
will try to figure out how to format the proposed changes, so it is easy for the public to
understand, be transparent, and try not to be too lengthy.
Council Member Hoppe cautioned that using certain words make some people vote
down everything. She stated that very few changes were being proposed that were truly
gender neutral, most were changing text to state position titles. She suggested
packaging the charter changes into some categories that were understandable and
transparent and to keep those categories together on the ballot. She suggested having
the redline version of the Charter put on the website for easy access and review.
Council Member Hultin stated she is concerned about the number of proposed changes
and how to better help the residents understand the changes. She stated that the
number of changes seem to be over whelming, and we need to be careful how we
present the information to the public. She asked that the city be very intentional about
how these are packaged.
Council Member Larson agreed with other council members stating it was a big project
and there is a lot of nuances that will be read into the matter nuances that will be read
into the proposed changes. He stated it is a big agree, this is a fairly big project and
there are a lot of nuances that will be read into the matter. He stated having a place for
people to go to see what exactly is being changed is helpful, along with organizing the
questions by subject.
Mayor Pro Tem Stites agreed with what other council members had said, stating there
are words that are hot topics such as “gender pronouns,” “density,” and “family.” He
stated that outreach and education is going to be the biggest help.…
Council Member Hultin suggested placing the changes in three categories: 1)
Compliance with higher jurisdiction, 2) Accuracy/clarity of definition, and 3)
modernization of administrative practices. She stated it would tell the story and be
easier to see the changes.
There was consensus from City Council to move forward with all the proposed changes.
as presented.
City Manager Patrick Goff stated the next steps are moving forward with a draft
ordinance which will be presented at the August 12 and August 26th meetings; notifying
the County of the city’s participation in the election; and then signing an IGA with the
County.
Council Member Hoppe asked for consensus from Council to ask staff to come back
within the next year to discuss potentially changing the city clerk and treasurer positions
from elected positions to appointed positions. She stated that the vote would need to
take place in 2025 or 2026, in a year when they were not running for us. Consensus
was reached.
6. City Manager’s Report
City Manager Patrick Goff spoke about a new incentive program for shopping along
Wadsworth Blvd during their reconstruction, wherein LocalWorks is offering an
opportunity for shoppers to win $1000. He also announced the opening of the Rooney
Road yard waste disposal site.
7. Elected Officials’ Reports
Council Member Hultin stating she represented the city at a national retreat last week
regarding transportation and infrastructure. She stated there may be a benefit to the city,
since funding may go directly to cities and towns for safety-related issues and bypass
the State. She also asked if the city could investigate bicycle parking issues with private
businesses, as bikes are parking on the ADA ramp entrance at Safeway. Mr. Goff stated
he would see what could be done.
Council Member Ohm agreed with the bicycle parking issues and hoped staff would look
into the matter. He also spoke about the ribbon cutting for The Ives, an affordable
housing project in Wheat Ridge.
Mayor Pro Stites stated the grand opening of The Ives stating the facilities were beautiful
and he believes the neighbors will going to like the facility.
Council Member Larson stated he was also at the ribbon cutting ceremony for The Ives
and was impressed by the number of people who attending from Housing and Urban
Development (HUD) and other officials from the state and federal government. He
stated it was impressive that a small 50-unit project was being so recognized in Wheat
Ridge. He also reminded everyone to help celebrate RidgeFest at Anderson Park.
City Manager Goff reminded Council that City Hall would be closed on Wednesday in
celebration of the Juneteenth Holiday.
8. Adjournment
Mayor Starker adjourned the meeting at 7:56 pm.
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Margy Greer, Sr. Deputy City Clerk
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Korey Stites, Mayor Pro Tem