HomeMy WebLinkAbout09.16.24 - Study Session NotesSTUDY SESSION NOTES
CITY OF WHEAT RIDGE, COLORADO
Hybrid - Virtual Meeting
September 16, 2024
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.
The Mayor explained the virtual/hybrid meeting format, how citizens will have the opportunity to be heard, and the procedures and policies to be followed.
1. Call to Order
Mayor Starker called the Special Study Session to order at 6:30 p.m.
2. Attendance
Council Members present: Jenny Snell, Rachel Hultin, Amanda Weaver (via Zoom),
Korey Stites, Dan Larson, and Scott Ohm.
Absent Janeece Hoppe
Also present: City Manager Patrick Goff, , Assistant City Manager Marianne Schilling,
Director of Public Works Maria D’Andrea, Sr, Community Development Director Lauren
Mikulak, Senior Deputy City Clerk Margy Greer, and other staff and interested residents.
3. Public’s Right to Speak
There were no public comments.
4. City Plan Update
Community Development Director Lauren Mikulak introduced representatives from czb
who gave a PowerPoint presentation. This was the third update to Council on the City Plan. Representatives from czb provided City Council with an update on the City Plan via
PowerPoint presentation which included the purpose of a comprehensive plan. They
stated that a great plan gets the big things right, plans for what is known, and creates a decision-making framework for hat is unknown. They stated it was a community-driven process which included online surveys, in-person events, a project webpage, and targeted intercepts. They stated there was in place an 18-member steering committee
and they also reviewed the timeline for plan completion.
Representatives spoke to the emerging consensus of Core Values, Planning Principles, and Planning Priorities, all of which were highlighted in the presentation.
They reviewed the residential, business, mixed-use and traffic framework that are Wheat Ridge. They showed a map overlay of residential place types, mixed-use and commercial place types, draft place type frameworks, mobility framework and the
implications of the framework.
Based on feedback from Council, the representatives from czb will revise place type and mobility frameworks; continue to work on “peaceful coexistence’ concepts; continue to work on the focus areas of peaceful coexistence and other common issues citywide;
the possible additional “mini engagement round” this fall; and the draft City Plan and
Engagement Round 4 in February of 2025. 5 Homeless Navigation Program Update
Issue
The most recent Homeless Navigation Program update was in October 2023. The purpose of this study session item is for the Navigators to provide a general update to City Council regarding the Homeless Navigation Program.
Marianne Schilling, Assistant City Manager, introduced the City’s Homeless Navigators
Kory Kolar and Maddy Horgan, who in turn gave the presentation.
They gave a PowerPoint presentation that showed the demographics and data which
included program referral numbers, housing placement, AfterCare for housing, program
expenses and fund sources, demographics including age, race, and disability, income
and the length of time persons were homeless before finding housing for them.
Overall, the navigators stated they see a small decline in homelessness in the area.
6 Legislative Advocacy Program.
Issue This memo presents the City Council with four initiatives that could form a comprehensive legislative strategy and complement the existing legislative forum. The
Council may choose to adopt the entire strategy or implement certain components.
Cole Haselip, Management Analyst for the City, gave a PowerPoint presentation which
introduced the Program. He spoke to the many different ways that other cities handle
legislative affairs. He spoke about the work that both the National League of Cities and
the Colorado Municipal League do on behalf of cities.
After a brief discussion, Council reached consensus on moving forward with a
legislative committee made up of Council Members. Council Members were instructed
to let staff know if they which to be a member of the committee. The committee will
discuss process and procedures.
7. Staff Report(s)
City Manager Patrick Goff reminded Council of the public open house regarding the
third stage of engagement on the City Plan, being held on Tuesday from 4:30-6:30 pm
at the Recreation Center.
8. Elected Officials’ Report(s)
Mayor and Council Members reported on recent meetings and events they attended
and upcoming activities in the community.
9. Adjournment
With no further business to come before Council, Mayor Starker adjourned the meeting
at 9:09 p.m.
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Margy Greer, Senior Deputy City Clerk
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Korey Stites, Mayor Pro Tem