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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-27-2025 - City Council Meeting MintuesMINUTES CITY COUNCIL MEETING CITY OF WHEAT RIDGE, COLORADO Monday, January 27, 2025 6:30 p.m. 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. 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, and Dan Larson. Absent: Leah Dozeman A quorum was established. Also present: City Manager Patrick Goff; Deputy City Manager Allison Scheck; Police Chief Chris Murtha, Division Chief Eric Kellogg, Senior Planner Scott Cutler, City Attorney Gerald Dahl, Community Development Director Lauren Mikulak (via Zoom), and Sr. Deputy City Clerk Margy Greer. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES None. 5. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Without objection or correction, the agenda stood as announced. 6. PROCLAMATIONS AND CEREMONIES A. Wheat Ridge All Conference Students - Wheat Ridge High School Athletic Director Jason Campbell introduced the All-Conference Students from Wheat Ridge High School. Mayor Starker and Council Member Janeece Hoppe handed out Proclamations of Recognition to each student. B. Swearing in Ceremony of Division Chief Shawn Wray – Police Chief Murtha administered the Oath of Office to new Division Chief Shawn Wray and introduced him to the Mayor, Council, and audience. C. Black History Month – Mayor Starker proclaimed February 2025 Black History Month in the City of Wheat Ridge and spoke to the continued struggle for racial justice and equality. 7. PUBLICS’ RIGHT TO SPEAK In Person Morgan Richards, Resident, stated it was Holocaust Remembrance Day and Wheat Ridge needs to stand for inclusivity. Megan Schleicher, Resident, stated she was supporting her friend Morgan Richards’ comments and to have mercy on those who are afraid in the community. Heather Dalton (via Zoom), Resident, stated she was supporting Morgan Richards’ comments and the city’s IDEA Committee, furthering the goal of inclusivity in Wheat Ridge. 8. CONSENT AGENDA None. PUBLIC HEARINGS AND ORDINANCES ON SECOND READING 9. Council Bill No. 01-2025 – an ordinance amending Chapter 26 of the Wheat Ridge Code of Laws creating a new Article XIV entitled “Mixed-Use Lutheran Legacy Campus Zone District” and making conforming amendments therewith Council Member Weaver read the Title of the Council Bill and Issue Statement into the Record. Issue This ordinance creates a new Article XIV (14) in Chapter 26 of the Wheat Ridge Code of Laws that establishes a new zone district, the Mixed-Use Lutheran Legacy Campus (MU-LLC) zone district. The zone district regulations establish development standards for the future redevelopment of the former hospital site based on the adopted Lutheran Legacy Campus Master Plan and City Council consensus. Approval of this ordinance will allow for the Lutheran Legacy Campus to be rezoned to the new MU-LLC zone district in the future. Mayor Starker opened a Public Hearing on the matter. Scott Cutler, Senior Planner, presented the new proposed Zone District, stating that Council had previously had an in-depth discussion at a former study session. Public Comments None. Council Comments Council Member Hultin asked if there would be an opportunity for smaller lots in the new zone district. Cutler stated that there is no minimum. Hultin also asked about the future land use requirements and parking requirements. Cutler stated that none of the 2024 state requirements had been incorporated into the proposed zoning district. Council Member Hoppe asked if the March study session would be soon enough to act before the laws are effective. Cutler stated yes. Council Member Larson asked why current zoning wasn’t being used for the site. Cutler explained that there is not current zoning that matches the master plan. Larson asked about 35th Avenue possibly being a dead end at Dudley. Cutler stated that there are several resident sites platted. Council Member Weavers asked if there was a tree preservations requirement or a tree canopy requirement. Cutler stated there was not within the site itself. Mayor Starker closed the Public Hearing. Council Member Weaver made a approve Council Bill No. 01-2025, an ordinance amending Chapter 26 of the Wheat Ridge Code of Laws creating a new Article XIV entitled Mixed Use Lutheran Legacy Campus Zone District and making conforming amendments therewith, on second reading, order it published, and that it takes effect immediately. It was seconded by Council Member Ohm. Vote: 7 Ayes. 0 Nays. The motion carried. 10. Council Bill No. 02-2025 – an ordinance amending Section 2-53 of the Wheat Ridge Code of Laws concerning membership of Boards and Commissions Council Member Hoppe read the Title of the Bill and the Issue Statement into the Record. Issue: This ordinance clarifies that board and commission members who change their personal residence to another council district within the city may continue to be a member representing the district for which they were appointed until the end of the term for which they were appointed. Mayor Starker opened a Public Hearing on the matter. Sr. Deputy City Clerk Greer explained that the ordinance would allow district appointees on boards, commissions, and committees to continue serving until the end of their term if they move out of the appointed district. Greer also stated that a resolution which was later the Agenda proposes for two committees to change their bylaws, so their term dates were the same as all other boards, commissions and committees. Public Comments None. Council Comments None. Mayor Starker closed the Public Hearing. Council Member Hoppe made a motion to approve Council Bill No. 02-2025, an ordinance amending Section 2-53 of the Wheat Ridge Code of Laws concerning membership of Boards and Commissions on second reading and that it takes effect 15 days after final publication. It was seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Stites. Vote: 7 Ayes. 0 Nays. The motion carried. 11. Council Bill No. 03-2025 – an ordinance adopting by reference the 2024 edition of the Model Traffic Code for Colorado, adopting amendments thereto, providing penalties for Model Traffic Code violations and making conforming amendments to Chapter 13 of the Wheat Ridge Code of Laws in connection therewith Council Member Larson read the Title of the Bill and the Issue Statement into the Record. Issue: - The City is required to periodically review the Wheat Ridge Municipal Traffic Code to ensure conformance with State of Colorado Traffic Ordinances. The newest version of the Model Traffic Code was adopted by the State of Colorado in 2024. To stay consistent and up to date with the newest Colorado Traffic Codes and to ensure the citizens of Wheat Ridge are best served by the updated Model Traffic Code, adoption of the newest code is recommended. Mayor Starker opened a Public Hearing on the matter. Division Chief Eric Kellogg reviewed the proposed Traffic Code with Council, reminding them of the in-depth presentation and discussion which took place at a previous study session. Public Comments None. Council Comments In answer to a question from Council Member Hultin, Kellogg stated that someone could be stopped for using their phone illegally. It is considered a primary offense. Mayor Starker closed the Public Hearing. Council Member Larson made a motion to approve Council Bill No. 03-2025, an ordinance adopting by reference the 2024 Model Traffic Code for Colorado, adopting amendments thereto, providing penalties for Model Traffic Code violations and making conforming amendments to Chapter 13 of the Wheat Ridge Code of Laws in connection therewith on second reading and that it takes effect fifteen (15) days after final publication, as provided by Section 5.11 of the Charter. It was seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Stites. Vote: 7 Ayes. 0 Nays. The motion carried. 12. Council Bill No. 04-2025 – an ordinance amending the Wheat Ridge Code of Laws to include Police Recruits as participants in the city’s Police Pension Plan Council Member Ohm read the Title of the Bill and Issue Statement into the Record. Issue: - Per the Wheat Ridge Code of Laws, membership in the police pension plan does not currently extend to recruits entering the academy. Recruits are therefore placed in the civilian plan for approximately six months, then enrolled in the sworn plan. This is administratively burdensome for staff and challenging for recruits. This ordinance amends the code to allow recruits to enroll immediately into the police pension plan. Mayor Starker opened a Public Hearing on the matter. Deputy City Manager Allison Scheck stated that current practice is to have the recruits on the civilian retirement plan for approximately six months, then enroll them into the sworn plan. The recruits currently are not able to roll the money from the civilian plan into the sworn plan. This Bill would allow the recruits to be enrolled in the sworn plan immediately and start vesting immediately. Public Comments None. Council Comments None. Mayor Starker closed the Public Hearing. Council Member Ohm made a motion to approve Council Bill No. 04-2025, an ordinance amending the Wheat Ridge Code of Laws to include police recruits as participants in the city’s police pension plan on second reading, and that it takes effect 15 days after final publication. It was seconded by Council Member Hoppe. Vote: 7 Ayes. 0 Nays. The motion carried. ORDINANCES ON FIRST READING None. DECISIONS, RESOLUTIONS, AND MOTIONS 13. Resolution No. 06-2025 – a resolution amending the bylaws of the Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) Committee and Sustainable Wheat Ridge Committee to conform term dates with other boards, commissions, and committees Council Member Snell read the Title of the Resolution and the Issue Statement into the Record. Issue This Resolution amends the Bylaws for the IDEA and Sustainable Wheat Ridge Committees, so their term dates conform with other Boards, Commission, and Committees. The only Commission which does not conform is the Election Commission, as its membership terms are set by the Home Rule Charter. Public Comment None. Council Comment None. Council Member Snell made a motion to approve Resolution 06-2025, a Resolution amending the bylaws of the Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (IDEA) Committee and Sustainable Wheat Ridge Committee to conform term dates with other boards, commissions and committees. It was seconded by Council Member Hultin. Vote: 7 Ayes. 0 Nays. The motion carried. 14. Resolution No. 07-2025 – a resolution approving the Amendment and Restatement of the City of Wheat Ridge Police Pension Fund Plan Adoption Agreement Mayor Pro Tem Stites read the Title of the Resolution and Issue Statement into the Record. Issue The City provides a 401(a)-retirement benefit to sworn and civilian employees. This resolution proposes two changes to the sworn pension plan. First, it increases the City’s contribution by one half percent to 12.5%. Second, it reduces the normal retirement age for sworn employees from 55 to 50 years old, the IRS minimum for public safety employees. Deputy City Manager Allison Scheck reviewed the proposed resolution with Council. Public Comment None. Council Comment None. Mayor Pro Tem Stites made a motion to approve Resolution 07-2025, a Resolution approving the Amendment and Restatement of the City of Wheat Ridge Police Pension Fund Plan Adoption Agreement. It was seconded by Council Member Hoppe. Vote: 7 Ayes. 0 Nays. The motion carried. 15. CITY MANAGER’S MATTERS City Manager Patrick Goff gave an update on meeting with the Wheat Ridge High School principal and stated the STEM program will continue at the school. He also reminded Council Members of the upcoming retreat and reminded them to turn in their surveys. 16. CITY ATTORNEY’S MATTERS None. 17. ELECTED OFFICIALS’ MATTERS Mayor and Council Members reported on various meetings, events, and activities they attended over the last week and thanked the public for their participation in the meeting. 18. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before City Council, Mayor Starker adjourned the meeting at 8:05 pm. Mayor and Council Members reported on various meetings, events, and activities they attended over the last week and thanked the public for their participation in the meeting. ______________________________ Margy Greer, Sr. Deputy City Clerk _____________________________ Korey Stites, Mayor Pro Tem