HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-12-2024 - City Council Meeting MinutesCity Council Meeting Minutes
CITY OF WHEAT RIDGE, COLORADO
7500 WEST 29TH AVENUE, MUNICIPAL BUILDING
August 12, 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.
1. Call to Order
Mayor Starker called the Regular City Council Meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
2. Pledge of Allegiance
Those present stood and recited the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
3. Roll Call
Council Members present: Jenny Snell, Scott Ohm, Rachel Hultin, Amanda Weaver,
Korey Stites, Janeece Hoppe, Dan Larson, and Leah Dozeman.
Absent: None.
A quorum was established.
Also present: City Manager Patrick Goff; Deputy City Manager Allison Scheck; City
Attorney Gerald Dahl; Sr. Deputy City Clerk Margy Greer, Director of Public Works
Maria D’Andrea; Director of Community Development Lauren Mikulak; Police Chief
Chris Murtha, Director of Parks and Recreation Karen O’Donnell, other staff, guests and
interested members of the public.
4. Approval of Minutes
July 22, 2024 – Regular City Council Meeting Minutes
Without objection or correction, the minutes were approved as presented.
5. Approval of Agenda
Council Member Dozeman asked for Item 8.- Resolution No. 38-2024, to be removed
from tonight’s Agenda. Mayor Starker stated it would be removed from the Agenda.
6. Public’s Right to Speak
In Person
None
Wheat Ridge Speaks:
No comments from Wheat Ridge Speaks or via Zoom.
7. Consent Agenda
None
Public Hearings and Ordinances on Second Reading
8. Council Bill No. 13-2024 – an ordinance amending Section 26.464.F of the Wheat
Ridge Code of Laws regarding approval of nonconforming accessory dwelling units
Council Member Hultin read the Issue Statement into the Record.
Issue
The proposed ordinance extends the grace period to legalize existing dwellings that
may qualify as accessory dwelling units (ADU) from August 15, 2024, to August 15,
2026.
Council Member Hultin made a motion to approve Council Bill No. 13-2024, an
ordinance amending Section 26.464.F of the Wheat Ridge Code of Laws regarding
approval of nonconforming accessory dwelling units, on second reading, order it
published, and that it takes effect immediately. It was seconded by Council Member
Hoppe.
Vote: 8 Ayes. No Nays. The motion carried.
Ordinances on First Reading
9. Council Bill No. 14-2024 – an ordinance submitting a ballot question to the
voters of the City at the November 5, 2024, Special Municipal Election, to amend the
Wheat Ridge Home Rule Charter related to building height at the former Lutheran
Hospital Campus.
Mayor Pro Tem Stites read the Issue Statement into the Record:
Issue
The Lutheran Legacy Campus (LLC) Master Plan was adopted in 2021 and
implementation of the plan’s vision requires that the City Charter be amended to modify
the building height limitations of the campus. This ordinance sets the ballot language for
the November 5th election which is due to the Jefferson County Clerk and Recorder on
September 6th.
Mayor Pro Tem Stites made a motion to approve Council Bill No. 14-2024, an ordinance
submitting a ballot question to the voters of the City at the November 5, 2024, Special
Election, to amend the Wheat Ridge Home Rule Charter related to building height at the
former Lutheran Hospital Campus, on first reading, order it published, the public hearing
set for Monday, August 26, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. as a virtual meeting and in City Council
Chambers, and that it takes effect immediately. It was seconded by Council Member
Ohm.
Vote: 8 Ayes. 0 Nays. The motion carried.
10. Council Bill No. 15-2024 – an ordinance submitting a ballot question to the
voters of the City at the November 5, 2024, Special Municipal Election, to amend the
Wheat Ridge Home Rule Charter to eliminate redundant references, conform to current
statutory and case law and make other non-substantive revisions
Council Member Snell read the Issue Statement into the Record:
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. This
ordinance sets the ballot language for the November 5th election which is due to the
Jefferson County Clerk and Recorder on September 6th.
Council Member Snell made a motion to approve Council Bill No. 15-2024, an
ordinance submitting a ballot question to the voters of the City at the November 5, 2024,
Special Election, to amend the Wheat Ridge Home Rule Charter to eliminate redundant
references, conform to current statutory and case law and make other non-substantive
revisions, on first reading, order it published, the public hearing set for Monday, August
26, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. as a virtual meeting and in City Council Chambers, and that it
takes effect immediately. It was seconded by Council Member Hoppe.
Vote: 8 Ayes. 0 Nays. The motion carried.
11. Council Bill No. 16-2024 – an ordinance amending Article V of Chapter 26 of the
Wheat Ridge Code of Laws concerning the City’s landscaping requirements and making
conforming amendments therewith
Council Member Ohm read the Issue Statement into the Record:
Issue
The proposed ordinance makes necessary updates to the City’s zoning and
development code to modernize, clarify, and update landscape design requirements.
This repeal and re-enactment of the ordinance updates standards to address more
water efficient design, and it reorganizes and clarifies code to make requirements easier
to understand by all users.
Council Member Ohm made a motion to approve Council Bill No. 16-2024, an ordinance
amending Article V of Chapter 26 of the Wheat Ridge Code of Laws concerning the
City’s landscaping requirements and making conforming amendments therewith, on first
reading, order it published, the public hearing set for Monday, August 26, 2024, at 6:30
p.m. as a virtual meeting and in City Council Chambers, and that it take effect fifteen
(15) days after final publication. It was seconded by Council Member Stites.
Vote: 7 Ayes (Snell, Ohm, Hultin, Weaver, Stites, Hoppe, and Dozeman) 1 Nay
(Larson). The motion carried.
12. Council Bill No. 17-2024 – an ordinance amending Section 2, 11, and 26 of the
Wheat Ridge Code of Laws regarding short-term rental district caps, reporting
requirements for hosting platforms, and enforcement procedures for same
Council Member Larson read the Issue Statement into the Record:
Issue
In February 2021, City Council enacted legislation concerning the licensing and
enforcement of short-term rentals (STRs). Since that time, staff has worked to
implement the legislation by licensing STRs, collecting the applicable lodgers’ tax, and
enforcing the codified regulations. Through the implementation of the program, both
members of Council and staff identified necessary amendments to the Code to improve
the STR program. This ordinance amends the Code based on direction received from
City Council on June 3, 2024.
Council Member Larson made a motion to approve Council Bill No. 17-2024, an
ordinance amending sections 2,11, and 26 of the Wheat Ridge Code of Laws, regarding
short-term rental district caps, reporting requirements for hosting platforms, and
enforcement procedures for same, on first reading, order it published, the public hearing
set for Monday, August 26, 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 Council Member Ohm.
Vote: 8 Ayes. 0 Nays. The motion carried.
Decisions, Resolutions, and Motions
13. Resolution No. 36-2024 – a resolution supporting an application to the
Jefferson County Open Space Trails Partnership program to request funding for
Clear Creek Trail concrete improvements
Council Member Weaver read the Issue Statement into the Record:
Issue
The City is eligible to apply for funding from the Jefferson County Open Space (JCOS)
Trails Partnership Program for trail-related improvement projects. The 2024 proposal is
for funding to supplement the previously awarded CDOT Transportation Alternatives
Program (TAP) grant to replace concrete along certain segments of the Clear Creek
Trail. A resolution of support from City Council is required to submit an application.
Council Member Weaver made a motion to accept Resolution No. 36-2024 – a
resolution supporting an application to the Jefferson County Open Space Trails
Partnership program to request funding for Clear Creek Trail concrete improvements. It
was seconded by Council Member Stites.
After questions from Council, Karen O’Donnell explained that more detailed information
regarding the improvements would be brought to Council once the funding was secured.
Vote: 8 Ayes. 0 Nays. The motion carried.
14. Motion to approve an agreement with and subsequent payments to ECI Site
Construction Management, Inc. for construction of the Phase II Green at 38th Project for
a total amount of $5,974,155 with a contingency of $300,000 for a total not to exceed
amount of $6,274,155.
Council Member Hoppe read the Issue Statement into the Record.
Issue
ECI Site Construction Management, Inc. was retained in May 2023 as the construction
manager and general contractor (CM/GC) for the Green at 38th Project. Subsequently,
they were awarded a contract in March 2024 for Phase I of the project to relocate the
Steven’s Elementary parking lot. Approval of this agreement with ECI for Phase II of the
Green at 38th Project will complete the project with the construction of the park adjacent
to the new Stevens Elementary parking lot.
A representative of ECI Site Construction Management, Inc., spoke to Council about the
completion of Phase, the “not to exceed” amount in the contract, and the beginning of
Phase II.
Council Member Hoppe made a motion to approve an agreement with and subsequent
payments to ECI Site Construction Management, Inc. for a construction of the Phase II
Green at 38th Project for a total amount of $5,974,155 with a contingency of $300,000
for a total not to exceed amount of $6,274,155. It was seconded by Council Member
Stites.
Vote: 8 Ayes.0 Nays. The motion carried.
15. City Manager’s Matters
City Manager Patrick Goff stated that Saturday would be the kick-off of Phase II of the
Green at 38th Project.
16. City Attorney’s Matters
No Comment.
17. Elected Officials’ Matters
Mayor and Council Members reported on events including the Carnation Festival, the
Art Show, the success of the City’s housing projects, and other events.
18. Adjournment
There being no further business to come before City Council, Mayor Starker adjourned
the meeting 7:18 p.m.
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Margy Greer, Senior Deputy City Clerk
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Korey Stites, Mayor Pro Tem