HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-14-2024 - City Council Meeting MinutesCity Council Meeting Minutes
CITY OF WHEAT RIDGE, COLORADO 7500 WEST 29TH AVENUE, MUNICIPAL BUILDING OCTOBER 14, 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 (Clerk for
the meeting); City Attorney Gerald Dahl, Director of Public Works Maria D’Andrea; Community Development Director Lauren Mikulak, other staff, guests and interested members of the public. 4. Approval of Minutes
City Council Meeting Minutes of September 23, 2024. Without objection or correction, the minutes were approved as presented. 5. Approval of Agenda Without objection or correction, the agenda stood as announced.
6. Proclamations and Ceremonies Mayor Starker read a Proclamation recognizing Judy and Dave Pighetti, who were
unable to attend the meeting, for the volunteer road clean-up they do once a month on
38th Avenue between Kipling Street and Wadsworth Blvd. Director of Public Works
Maria D’Andrea received the plaque on behalf of the Pighettis.
7. Public’s Right to Speak
Wheat Ridge Speaks
None.
In Person
Richard Schuster -stated he was a write-in candidate for the RTD Board, District M, and
spoke to his desire to serve on the Board.
Mary Fedge – Resident – spoke in opposition of Ballot Questions 2B and 2C. She
stated that the proposed charter changes including changing the word “citizen” to
“resident” seven times, which tells people they no longer have to be a US citizen to vote
in Wheat Ridge; there would be an unlimited number of people who can live in one
housing unit which would cause more density at the Lutheran campus; the charter
changes gives the city manager more authority to go as high density as he wants. She
stated it was time for the citizens of Wheat Ridge to push back like they did with
Walmart and other developments which ended with creating better developments.
Via Zoom
None.
8. Consent Agenda
None. Public Hearings and Ordinances on Second Reading
9. Council Bill No. 20-2024 - an ordinance amending Section 11-534 of the Wheat
Ridge Code of Laws concerning tobacco retail business Council Member Janeece Hoppe read the Title and Issue Statement into the Record:
Issue
The Code prohibits tobacco product retailers from operating within 1000 feet of a youth-oriented facility (such as schools, parks, recreation facilities, etc.). The “grandfathering" clause of Code section 11-534(d) nevertheless exempts those retailers who were in
place on the effective date of Ordinance 1710 Series 2021, which created the 1000-foot
limit. However, if that retailer sells the business, the buyer of the business is not eligible for the grandfathering protection of that Code section. Councilmember Hoppe, supported by Councilors Dozeman and Hultin, requested that Council consider an ordinance expanding the grandfathering scope of Code 11-534(d) to include purchasers
of a protected location. Council provided consensus to proceed with a code amendment
on September 9, 2024. Mayor Starker opened the public hearing on the matter.
City Attorney Gerald Dahl spoke to the provision adopted in 2021 and created an
exception for businesses within that distance. That section did not apply to certain sections of the ordinance. Retailers in place on April 12, 2021, if purchasing retail business, allows the distance requirement to be “grandfathered” in. The retailer has come to Council asking for support of the ordinance.
Public Comments – None.
Mayor Starker closed the public hearing on the matter.
Council Comments Council Member Janeece Hoppe made a motion to adopt Council Bill 20-2024, an ordinance amending Section 11-534 of the Wheat Ridge Code of Laws concerning
tobacco retail business It was seconded by Council Member Dozeman. Vote: 8 Ayes. 0 Nays. The motion carried. Ordinances on First Reading
10. Council Bill No. 21-2024 – an ordinance amending relevant sections of the Wheat Ridge Code of Laws concerning the City’s general business license requirements
Mayor Pro Tem read the Issue Statement into the Record.
Issue This ordinance makes several amendments to the City’s Business Licensing Code. These changes are designed to ensure compliance with state legislation, transition to
bi-annual business license renewals, introduce an inspection fee, and consolidate
certain special licenses with regular business licenses. Mayor Pro Tem Stites made a motion to approve Council Bill No. 21-2024, an ordinance amending relevant sections of the Wheat Ridge Code of Laws concerning the City’s
general business license requirements, order it published, public hearing set for
Monday, October 28 at 6:30 p.m. as a virtual meeting and in City Council Chambers and that it takes effect fifteen (15) days after final publications as provided by Section 5.11 of the Charter. It was seconded by Council Member Hoppe.
Vote: 8 Ayes. 0 Nays. The motion carried. 11 Council Bill No. 22-2024 – an ordinance adopting a new Article VI in Chapter 13 of the Wheat Ridge Code of Laws concerning automated vehicle identification system
Council Member Dozeman read the Issue Statement into the Record.
Issue A discrepancy exists between Code sections 19-80 and 19-77 of the Wheat Ridge Code of Laws concerning the disposition of lost or abandoned property. To correct that
discrepancy, the Wheat Ridge Police Department is requesting that Code section 19-80
be amended to render it consistent with Code section 19-77 and the standard operating procedures of the police department.
Council Member Dozeman made a motion to approve Council Bill No. 22-2024, an ordinance adopting a new Article VI Chapter 13 of the Wheat Ridge Code of Laws
concerning Automated Vehicle Identification Systems, order it published, public hearing set for Monday October 28, 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, as provided by Section 5.11 of the Charter. It was seconded by Council Member Ohm. Vote: 8 Ayes. 0 Nays. The motion carried. Decisions, Resolutions, and Motions
12. Resolution No. 47-2024 – a resolution adopting the 2024 Sustainability Action Plan Update Council Member Hultin read the Title and Issue Statement into the Record:
Issue
Sustainability is an important issue within the City of Wheat Ridge, impacting municipal operations, businesses, and residents alike. Staff have been working to update the initial 2018 Sustainability Action Plan, and this resolution would adopt the 2024 Sustainability Action Plan Update: A Five-Year Roadmap as City policy to guide future
decisions and actions affecting sustainability efforts throughout the City.
Presentation – Mary Hester, Sustainability Coordinator – Mary Hester gave a brief synopsis of the proposed Sustainability Plan. It had previously been presented to Council at a Study Session.
Council Comments Council Member Hultin stated she was pleased with the Plan and spoke in favor of its passage.
Council Member Larson spoke in opposition to the Plan stating several areas of concern including that the initial plan was not formally adopted; does not require power grid protection; city should have more say in water supply; and the plan includes too many unsupported assumptions.
Council Member Dozeman spoke in opposition to the Plan and stated she would not be voting in favor of the resolution because she is concerned about how the plan may inform policy that may increase costs for the business community. Council Member Hultin made a motion to approve Resolution No. 47-2024, a resolution
adopting the 2024 Sustainability Action Plan Update. It was seconded by Mayor Pro
Tem Stites. Vote: 6 Ayes (Hultin, Ohm, Hoppe, Weaver, and Snell). 2 Nays (Larson and Dozeman). The motion carried.
13. Motion to accept permanent easements and temporary construction easements from property owners adjacent to the intersection of 26th Avenue and Harlan Street
Council Member Snell read the Issue Statement into the Record. Issue City staff is working with the City of Edgewater to design and construct a roundabout at
the intersection of 26th Avenue and Harlan Street. A roundabout would slow-speeding vehicles, improve opportunities for pedestrians to Ross 26th Avenue and enhance the existing bike lanes along 26th Avenue. It is necessary to acquire portions of private property in order to construct the roundabout. Temporary easements for use during construction are also required. Two of the properties where land is needed are located
in Wheat Ridge. Therefore, the needed land must be accepted by the city as permanent and temporary easements. Presentation – Director of Public Works Maria D’Andrea stated that this was discussed at a prior council study session. She said they are working with Edgewater on this
project and Edgewater is taking the lead on the contract for design and construction.
The project would be put out to bid in November of December with construction starting in early spring. Council Member Larson asked about the property and acquirement of easements.
D’Andrea stated it would all be done prior to the beginning of the project. Mayor Starker asked if there was any artwork planned for the center of the roundabout. D’Andrea stated that there is potential for some public art, but at the current time, there will be grass in the center area.
Council Comments Council Member Snell made a motion to accept permanent easements and temporary construction easements from property owners adjacent to the intersection of 26th Avenue and Harlan Street. It was seconded by Council Member Stites.
Vote: 8 Ayes. 0 Nays. The motion carried. 14. Motion to cancel the November 4, 2024, Study Session.
Council Member Larson read the Issue Statement into the Record. Issue The City Council Study Session of November 4, 2024, currently coincides with the week of the upcoming November 2024 Election. The City of Wheat Ridge has signed an IGA
to run a concurrent election with Jefferson County. The Wheat Ridge City Council
Chambers is an advertised Jefferson County polling place. As such, the City Council Chambers will require election equipment, election judges, and the utmost security to
ensure a valid election, free from protest. It is for these reasons that staff and the City Clerk’s office request to cancel the November 4, 2024, City Council Study Session.
Presentation
City Manager Patrick Goff stated that due to the chambers being used by the County as a Voter Service Center during the Election, it would be necessary to cancel the November 4, 2024, meeting.
Council Comments
Council Member Larson made a motion to cancel the November 4, 2024, City Council Study Session. It was seconded by Council Member Mayor Pro Tem Stites.
Vote: 8 Ayes. 0 Nays. The motion carried.
15. City Manager’s Matters City Manager Patrick Goff deferred his report to the Study Session which followed this meeting.
16. City Attorney’s Matters City Attorney Dahl provided clarification on the height ballot question and the rezoning approval requirements, if the ballot measure passed.
17. Elected Officials’ Matters
Council Member Hultin stated that it was incumbent upon the council members to provide correct information to the public regarding Ballot Questions 2B and 2C. There is a lot of incorrect information out there and she stated Council has a higher level of obligation to provide accurate information to the residents. She encouraged people to
go to the website and read the proposed charter changes. She encouraged voting and reminded people they could register to vote up to the day of the Election Council Member Snell – spoke in agreement with Hultin’s comments.
Council Member Larson – stated that ballots were mailed and for the public to watch for them in their mailboxes and to vote their conscience. Council Member Ohm – spoke to the importance of fact checking regarding the ballot and encouraged people to go to the website and read the proposed charter changes.
Council Member Weaver – stated that the information regarding density and the limited or allowing a certain number of people in each household is not part of the proposed Charter changes. City Attorney Dahl stated that the state adopted a chapter last session that prohibits it.
Mayor Pro Tem Stites agreed with his colleagues and stated people should read the flyers and check the facts.
18. Adjournment There being no further business to come before City Council, Mayor Starker adjourned
the meeting at 7:38 pm.
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Margy Greer, Sr. Deputy City Clerk
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Korey Stites, Mayor Pro Tem