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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-03-2025 Study Session NotesSTUDY SESSION NOTES CITY OF WHEAT RIDGE, COLORADO Hybrid - Virtual Meeting March 3, 2025 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 7:45 p.m., following a Regular Meeting of City Council. 2. Attendance Council Members present: Jenny Snell, Rachel Hultin, Janeece Hoppe, Korey Stites, Dan Larson, and Scott Ohm. Absent: Amanda Weaver and Leah Dozeman. Also present: City Manager Patrick Goff, Deputy Community Development Director Lauren Mikulak, Public Works Director Maria D’Andrea, Senior Deputy City Clerk Margy Greer, and other staff and interested residents. 3. Public’s Right to Speak In Person Andrea Burch – Resident – President of Lutheran Medical Center – Thanked Council and made herself available to answer questions from Council regarding HealthONE’s request to repeal the moratorium on free-standing emergency centers. Joyce Camp – Resident – Stated she lives in Cambridge Park and asked if any studies had been done regarding property values and how they are impacted based on traffic calming devices right outside your door. She asked if long school buses, moving vans, and emergency vehicles are able to navigate around the traffic circles. She also asked about eminent domain, assuming property outside the front entrance of Cambridge Park will need to be used for the traffic circle. She asked for information on how eminent domain works. Maureen Tarrant – Non-resident – Vice President of External Affairs for HCA HealthOne. She spoke to the many assets of Rose Medical Center and in favor of the City allowing for a free-standing medical center and health park. Kara Nicklas – Non-resident – She spoke to the many assets of Rose Medical Center and in favor of the City allowing for a free-standing medical center and health park. Brent Levy – Non-resident – Chairman of Emergency Medicine at Rose Medical Center. He spoke to the many assets of Rose Medical Center and in favor of the City allowing for a free-standing medical center and health park. Dr. Mark Kozlowski – Non-resident – Rose Medical Center Emergency Services - He spoke to the many assets of Rose Medical Center and in favor of the City allowing for a free-standing medical center and health park. Karen Biffinger – Non-resident – Chief Nursing Officer at Rose Medical Center - She spoke to the many assets of Rose Medical Center and in favor of the City allowing for a free-standing medical center and health park. Dawn Hovanec – Non-resident – ER Nurse for Rose Medical Center - She spoke to the many assets of Rose Medical Center and in favor of the City allowing for a free-standing medical center and health park. Amanda Kelly-Dorris – Resident and Nurse at Rose Medical Center– Spoke to the need for emergency health care services in Wheat Ridge, particularly on the east side. She spoke to the many assets of Rose Medical Center and in favor of the City allowing for a free-standing medical center and health park. Jeffrey Kaye – Non-resident – Director of Chaplain Services at Rose Medical Center - He spoke to the many assets of Rose Medical Center and in favor of the City allowing for a free-standing medical center and health park. Julie Pelegrin – Resident – spoke in opposition of the proposed traffic circle at 38th Avenue and Miller Street. Doran Volzke – Resident - spoke in opposition of the proposed traffic circle at 38th Avenue and Miller Street. Terri Urbanowski – Resident – spoke in favor of the proposed traffic circle at 38th Avenue and Miller Street. Dennis Garrou – Resident – spoke in opposition of the proposed traffic circle at 38th Avenue and Miller Street. Wheat Ridge Speaks Item No. 2 - 38th West St Improvement Project Dennis Garrou – Resident - Please explain the NEED for traffic circles on 38th Ave. From my observation there have been no traffic tabulations by counter strips on the street or by police presence. I travel 38th daily in both directions and speeds are consistently, at worst, within 5 miles of the limit and nearly always with light traffic. A rationale for traffic circles must be more than a perceived need based on unsupported opinion. It must have a demonstrated need, which we have yet to have presented. A circle at 38th and Miller would have several NEGATIVE impacts: 1) The inability of Coloradans in our area to use traffic circles properly. Examples include Old Golden Road in Golden, Grandview Drive and Balsam in Arvada, and 52nd Ave between Independence and Garrison in Arvada. Drivers on the predominately busier street fail to YIELD to traffic in the circle from the smaller streets. Rather than alternating entrance into the circles, drivers from the busier street (38th in this case) simply "daisy chain" through the circle and cause the unsuspecting driver who tries to use it properly untold headaches and risk of accidents. European circles operate much better, but it seems here that no amount of "education" (which has been non-existent) has changed this behavior at these locations since they were installed. 2) A circle at 38th and Miller would, of necessity, make an incursion into Miller on the north side that would eliminate vital waiting space for vehicles seeking to enter Cambridge Park while obtaining gate pass code authorization. Up to this point, I have not seen or heard anything that would justify a change that would create an improvement in the current traffic arrangement. Item No. 2 - 38th West St Improvement Project Jon Berquist - Resident - I live in the Cambridge Park development at 38th and Miller. My wife and I are in support of the traffic circle at the entrance to our complex. This is an improvement over what we have today with the amount and speed of traffic on 38th St. Some people are afraid of a traffic circle, but all will get used to it after a few exits from our complex. The traffic heading East now will have to slow down and give us the right of way if we are in the circle. Jon and Lisa Berquist Via Letters (attached). 4. City Plan Status Update Community Development Director Lauren Mikulak introduced Ella Stueve, Senior Neighborhood Planner, who stated that the purpose of the study session was to provide City Council with the fourth update on the City Plan process and to have a discussion with council members regarding the content included in the fourth phase of City Plan public engagement. Phase 4 includes a set of tools that the city can use to guide public and private investment to align with community priorities. It also examines how these tools might be used in different locations around Wheat Ridge and maps out what implementation might look like after adoption of the plan. She spoke to the timeline, public process and outreach, and next steps. Stueve asked for feedback from Council regarding the proposed toolkit aligning with community priorities and the proposed implementation plan. Council Comments Council Member Hultin -stated that personal safety and bicycle safety is another layer which will be included in the Plan. Mayor Pro Tem Stites – stated that he likes the tool kit as it applies to laying the groundwork moving forward with the different districts. He asked about the threshold for applying the different tools. Discussion ensued regarding being able to mix and match the tools within the tool kit. Different tools will be intermixed to fit with each specific district. The tools are meant to be flexible. Council Member Snell -spoke in favor of the proposed tool kit. Stueve spoke to next steps regarding mobility, the upcoming open house, sharing feedback to her, and the Planning Commission meeting being held on March 6th. The draft plan will be released for public review in late spring/early summer; an additional study session will be held during the public draft review period; with formal adoption over the summer. 5. 38th West Street Improvement Project – Study Results Director of Public Works Maria D'Andrea gave a PowerPoint presentation regarding the results of the study which was completed regarding 38th Avenue. The project goals included: improving the roadway to accommodate pedestrians and bicyclists, while still accommodating vehicular traffic; improve stormwater drainage throughout the corridor and slow travel speeds along the corridor. She stated the recommended direction included: two-lane roadway; one street bike lanes; continuous sidewalks on both sides of the street; three roundabouts, narrowed lanes; three additional pedestrian crosswalks and improved stormwater piping and collection. D’Andrea reviewed each of the proposed recommendation in more detail and also spoke to the “undergrounding” of utilities. The cost estimate is $24,051,600 for constructions costs, land acquisition, ROW plans, appraisal & acquisition services, design engineering and construction management. There is a 30% contingency included in the cost due to the early estimation of the project. She then asked for input from Council regarding moving forward with the final design as proposed; their desire to underground the utilities; and any other items Council would like to explore during the final design process. Council Comments Council Member Hoppe stated that underground on a project of this size should be done and asked about alternative funding for such a large cost. D’Andrea spoke to the Xcel Energy fee is put aside annually for the City to use for such projects. However, it is not enough to cover the estimated cost. Council Member Ohm stated that the minor arterials should be priorities for undergrounding, especially since there is ROW work being done. He asked about turning out of Cambridge Park with or without a roundabout. D’Andrea stated that roundabouts tend to be safer regarding turning lanes. Mayor Pro Tem Stites asked if there was a possibility to delete the roundabout in front of Cambridge. D’Andrea stated that with the idea being to slow down traffic, rather than delete, they would be able to potentially move the roundabout one block west of Miller Street. Council Member Hultin stated that AARP has a great website regarding the safety of roundabouts and encouraged people to read the study. She stated that she supports the undergrounding of the utilities. In answer to another question from Hultin, D’Andrea stated that some crosswalks shown are in addition to the ones currently in place, not replacements. Council Member Snell asked if there was traffic data on the areas for the proposed roundabouts. D’Andrea stated that they have traffic studies for the entire corridor, and it shows about 6900 vehicles per day. Parfet Street would show the most traffic. Snell asked if the pedestrian crossing would also be deleted from the design at Miller Street if the roundabout was moved. D’Andrea said it would move a block west with the roundabout. Council Member Larson stated that underground of utilities is important to the grid, as weather effects the above-ground utilities. He asked if there was data on the rate of speeding along the corridor. D’Andrea stated that she would follow up with those numbers for them. City Manager Patrick Goff stated that the Police Department’s data show that speeding along the west end of 38th had one of the highest counts in the City. Larson asked if the design plans include sound walls. D’Andrea stated that soundwalls are required when the noise levels reach a certain threshold and that threshold is not met on 38th Avenue and since federal dollars are not being used, there would be no requirement to do so. Larson asked about storm drainage issues. D’Andrea stated that some drainage is currently in place and is adequate, other areas would need to be enlarged. There was consensus from Council to have staff move forward with the proposed design as permitted and consensus to pursue the undergrounding of utilities. Mayor Starker recessed the meeting at 8:44 pm and reconvened at 8:51 p.m. 6. HCA HealthONE Rose Development Proposal City Manager Patrick Goff introduced this item by stating that the City received a request from HCA HealthONE LLC and its affiliate HCA HealthONE Rose to amend the Wheat Ridge Code of Laws to allow for freestanding emergency departments (FSED) in the City and for the development of a health park at the northwest corner of 38th Avenue and Wadsworth Boulevard. He stated that the City would have to amend their Code, as Wheat Ridge does not currently allow free-standing emergency rooms within their city limits. He spoke to the history of the issue, a 2-year moratorium and eventual ordinance banning them in the City. Goff introduced Stacey Guber, President and CEO of HCA HealthOne Rose, who gave a PowerPoint presentation on Rose Medical Center and the proposed free-standing emergency room and medical office park project. Community Development Director Lauren Mikulak spoke to the prior action which led to the ban of free-standing emergency centers in the city; the lack of financial impact of the city; the current Code and decisions leading up to the current Code; the proposed Table of Medical Uses by Zone District; and asked for direction from Council regarding amending the current ordinance to allow freestanding emergency departments as proposed in the Council Action Form. Council Comments Council Member Hoppe spoke to the history of the City’s action which led to the ban of freestanding emergency departments. She stated she would be in favor of the amendment to the ordinance as the emergency services are needed in the community and the women services offered would be helpful as well. Council Member Hultin stated that in speaking to residents surrounding Lutheran Legacy Campus, they are genuinely worried about losing that emergency medical care. On behalf of her constituents, she is in favor of the proposed center and proposed amendment to the Code. She stated her concern about opening the City to having several of these types of medical facilities come into the City at a time when they are trying to diversify the corridors. Lauren Mikulak stated that there is not a lot of land that meets the zoning and acreage criteria. Mayor Pro Tem Stites asked about the tax revenue regarding this type of development. Goff stated that individual business sales tax is confidential, and he does not have the proposed revenue numbers. Stites stated he was in favor of the project and amending the Code. Council Member Ohm asked about the allowed height of the proposed zoning. Mikulak stated it would be 6-story for M-CU. Overall policy goals for Wadsworth are to see a mix of uses and this project does align with the currently adopted goals of having mixed uses along Wadsworth. He spoke in favor of the proposed Code change. Council Member Snell asked about the entrances to the site. It was stated that the drawing is conceptual and those type of features would be further defined with the site plan. Council Member Larson stated that he reviewed the minutes of the meeting wherein the ban was put into place and stated that many of the concerns no longer exist. He asked if there would be opportunity for Mixed-Used Interstate to be included as a conditional use. Mikulak stated she that would be an option for council to consider. There was consensus from Council to move forward with the changes as proposed and presented by staff. 5. Staff Report(s) None. 6. Elected Officials’ Report(s) Mayor and Council Members reported on recent meetings and events they attended and upcoming activities in the community 7. Adjournment With no further business to come before Council, Mayor Starker adjourned the meeting at 9:45 p.m. _________________________________ Margy Greer, Senior Deputy City Clerk _________________________________ Korey Stites, Mayor Pro Tem