HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-24-2025 - City Council Meeting MinutesCity Council Meeting Minutes
CITY OF WHEAT RIDGE, COLORADO 7500 WEST 29TH AVENUE, MUNICIPAL BUILDING MARCH 24, 2025
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, and Dan Larson.
Absent: Leah Dozeman A quorum was established. Also present: City Manager Patrick Goff; Public Work, City Attorney Gerald Dahl,
Assistant City Manager Marianne Schilling, Director of Parks and Recreation Karen O’Donnell, Management Analyst Cole Haeslip, and Sr. Deputy City Clerk Margy Greer 4. Approval of Minutes City Council Meeting Minutes, February 10, 2025
City Council Special Study Session Notes, February 10, 2025 City Council Meeting Minutes, February 24, 2025 City Council Special Study Session Notes, February 24, 2025 City Council Study Session Notes, March 03, 2025 Approved with typographical errors corrected by Council Member Larson which were
emailed before the meeting. 5. Approval of Agenda Without objection or correction, the agenda stood as presented. 6. Proclamations A. Mayor Starker proclaimed April 2025 as Child Abuse Prevention Month in the City of Wheat Ridge and presented the Proclamation to Jennifer Kemps, The Ralston House Development Officer.
B. Mayor Starker proclaimed April 2025 Sexual Assault Awareness Month and April 23, 2025, Colorado Denim Day in the City of Wheat Ridge and presented the Proclamation to Candace Cooledge, Executive Director of Porchlight Family Justice
Center. 7. Public’s Right to Speak
In Person
Jan Facenelli – Resident – spoke to the decibel levels of the noise being produced by
the dryer fans at the car wash at 44th Avenue and Gray Street. She thanked staff for
looking into the issue and hopes there is a resolution coming soon.
Julia Reese – Resident – spoke to the density and zoning changes which she stated are
ruining the character of the houses and neighborhoods in Wheat Ridge. She asked who
benefits from the density changes. She asked Council if they have taken any financial
or other kind of benefit from the people who will be doing the development at the
Lutheran site and benefitted by Council changing the zoning. Again, she asked who
has benefitted and how does the community benefit from the change of zoning. City
Manager Patrick Goff stated that the zoning issue is a 1st Reading Ordinance tonight
and there will be no testimony or presentation on the item. In answer to Reese’s
question, Goff stated that there has been absolutely no campaign donations or personal
gain. Mayor Starker stated there was absolutely none.
Gretchen Josten – Resident – spoke to the decibel levels of the noise being produced
by the dryer fans at the car wash at 44th Avenue and Gray Street. She stated the owner
said the City gave them an exemption. She stated it was a 24 hour/7 day per week
operation.
Liz Veeder – Resident - stated her concerns about the proposed mixed-use zone
change at Lutheran Legacy Campus. She stated her concerns about the increase in
rental properties.
Carol Mathews – Resident – spoke to her concerns about changing R1 and R2 zoning
to Multi-Use zoning. She spoke to how other areas of the city were not protected by
zoning which was promised when the land was developed.
Walt Kordziel – Resident – stated Council nor Planning Commission had one negative
vote or diversity of thought regarding zoning issues. He stated there is a home near
him where 12 people reside which causes parking issues and traffic in and out of the
residence and they get no cooperation from the management of the home. He asked to
keep Wheat Ridge the way it used to be.
Sandra Sands – Resident – asked Council to investigate the decibel levels of the noise
produced by the car wash on 44th Avenue and Gray Street. She stated the blowers are
working 24/7. She asked if there was some type of sound barrier that could be installed
on the site to help mitigate the noise.
Austin Caldwell – Resident – asked for City Council’s help in mitigating the noise issues
caused by the car wash on 44th Avenue and Gray Street. He stated the noise is 24
hours a day. He said the former car wash at that location did not have the noise
problems they have today.
Dee Conner – Resident – spoke to his concerns and his neighbors’ concerns regarding
the noise caused by the car wash on 44th Avenue and Gray Street. He stated his home
is his refuse and he looks forward to having quiet.
8. CONSENT AGENDA
Council Member Hoppe read the Consent Agenda into the Record. The Consent Agenda consists of Agenda Items 8a through 8f, inclusive. a. Motion to approve the purchase of salt materials for snow and ice control from Independent Salt Company in a total amount not to exceed $135,000
b. Motion to approve the purchase of three Police Department replacement vehicles and installation of lighting and auxiliary equipment in a total amount not to exceed $208,670
c. Resolution No. 15-2025 – a resolution amending the 2025 Fiscal Year General Fund budget to reflect the approval of a supplemental budget appropriation in the amount of $25,000 for the purpose of accepting a grant from Colorado Gives Foundation Council Member Hoppe made a motion to adopt the Consent Agenda as read into the
Record. It was seconded Council Member Ohm. Vote: 7 Ayes. 0 Nays. The motion carried. 9. PUBLIC HEARINGS AND ORDINANCES ON SECOND READING None.
ORDINANCES ON FIRST READING 10. Council Bill No. 06-2025 – an ordinance approving a city-initiated zone change of the Lutheran Legacy Campus from Planned Hospital Development (PHD),
Planned Commercial Development (PCD), Residential-Two (R-2), and Residential-One (R-1) to the Mixed Use-Lutheran Legacy Campus (MU-LLC) zone district Council Member Weaver made a motion to approve Council Bill No. 06-2025, an
ordinance approving a city-initiated zone change of the Lutheran Legacy Campus from
Planned Hospital Development (PHD), Planned Commercial Development (PCD),
Residential-Two (R-2, and Residential-One (R-1) to the Mixed Use – Lutheran Legacy
Campus (MU-LLC) zone district, on first reading, order it published, the public hearing set for Monday, April 14, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. as a virtual meeting and in City Council
Chambers, and that it take effect immediately. It was seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Stites. Vote: 7 Ayes. 0 Nays. The motion carried. DECISIONS, RESOLUTIONS, AND MOTIONS
11. Motion to formally approve and adopt “The Green at 38th” park name
Council Member Larson asked about the public outreach and the City’s policy regarding the naming of parks. Director of Parks and Recreation Karen O’Donnell stated that their public outreach throughout the lengthy process of developing the program for the park.
Council member Ohm made a motion to formally approve and adopt “The Green at 38th” park name. It was seconded by Council Member Hoppe. Vote: 7 Ayes. 0 Nays. The motion carried. 12. Resolution No. 16-2025 – a resolution in support of House Bill 25-1272,
Construction Defects and Middle Market Housing Council Member Hultin briefly spoke about Council’s new Legislative Committee, the Legislative Agenda, and how this House Bill supports the City’s goal of providing affordable housing in the community.
Council Member Hultin made a motion to adopt Resolution No. 16-2025 – a resolution in support of House Bill 25-1272, Construction Defects and Middle Market Housing. It was seconded by Council Member Weaver. Vote: 7 ayes. 0 Nays. The motion carried.
13. Resolution No. 17-2025 – a resolution in opposition of Senate Bill 25-001, Colorado Voting Rights Act
Council Member Hultin introduced the Resolution stating the Legislative Committee’s
opposition to the Bill. She stated that CML is introducing some Amendments to the Bill and the Legislative Committee will continue to monitor. Mike Okada – Resident – thanked for Council for making this issue clear and stated he
supported the resolution.
Council Comment Council Member Larson spoke in opposition of the Senate Bill, stating that it would take away local control of elections, targets municipalities, and creates unfunded mandates.
Council Member Larson made a motion to adopt Resolution No. 17-2025, a resolution in opposite of Senate Bill 25-001, Colorado Voting Rights Act. It was seconded by Council Member Hultin. Vote: 7 Ayes. 0 Nays. The motion carried.
14. City Manager’s Matters City Manager Patrick Goff asked Chief Murtha to speak about the issue regarding the noise from the car wash. Chief Murtha spoke in detail about the Police Department working very closely with the car wash owner to mitigate the sound issues and they will
continue to work with them until a resolution is met. Council Member Hultin stated that car washes seem like an industrial use and maybe there should be a change in the zoning allowances. Goff stated that Hacienda Restaurant has closed.
15. City Attorney’s Matters None. 16. Elected Official’s Matters
Mayor and City Council Members stated their pride in the City, thanked staff for their hard work, and reported on events and activities they attended over the past weeks. 17. Adjournment There being no further business to come before City Council, Mayor Starker adjourned
the meeting at 7:54 pm.
_________________________________
Margy Greer, Sr. Deputy City Clerk
_________________________________
Korey Stites, Mayor Pro Tem