HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance 1820 - Urban Renewal Authority
CITY OF WHEAT RIDGE, COLORADO
INTRODUCED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HOPPE
Council Bill No. 07
Ordinance No. 1820
Series 2025
TITLE: AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE WHEAT RIDGE CODE OF LAWS
CONCERNING MEMBERSHIP OF THE URBAN RENEWAL AUTHORITY
WHEREAS, the City of Wheat Ridge is a home rule municipality having all powers
conferred by Article XX of the Colorado Constitution; and
WHEREAS, the Council is authorized by CRS 31-25-101 et seq to create an urban
renewal authority;
WHEREAS, in the exercise of this authority, the Council has previously adopted Chapter 25 of the Code of Laws (the “Code”) providing for the establishment of the urban
renewal authority (the “Authority”) for the City, its duties, and membership; and
WHEREAS, the Authority presently consists of seven members; one from each
Council district and three at-large members; and
WHEREAS, in 2015, the Colorado Legislature amended the urban renewal statute to require a membership of thirteen, with three members appointed by out-of-city
authorities: one by the board of county commissioners, one by the school district, and
one by the special districts having a mill levy in the City.
WHEREAS, the 2015 requirement only applies to urban renewal authorities
governing urban renewal districts formed after the effective date of the bill; and because until now the City has not created any new urban renewal areas since 2015, it was
permitted to retain its seven-member authority; and
WHEREAS, because the City is preparing to create one or more new urban renewal
areas, the 2015 requirement now will apply, and the membership of the Authority must be
increased to thirteen; and
WHEREAS, the Council wishes to expand the membership of the Authority to
comply with the statute by expanding the City members to ten, such that there shall be
one member from each Council district, five at-large members, and one elected City
official member.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WHEAT RIDGE, COLORADO:
Section 1. Section 25-24 of the Code is amended to read:
Sec. 25-24. Same-Appointment of members; number.
(a) MEMBERSHIP. The authority shall consist of THIRTEEN (13) seven (7) members. TEN OF SUCH MEMBERS SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE CITY (THE
“CITY MEMBERS”). THE AUTHORITY MEMBERSHIP SHALL ALSO INCLUDE
THREE (3) ADDITIONAL MEMBERS: ONE APPOINTED BY THE BOARD OF
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, ONE BY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND ONE BY THE
SPECIAL DISTRICTS HAVING A MILL LEVY IN THE CITY (THE ‘NON-CITY MEMBERS”).
(b) CITY MEMBERS; APPOINTMENT; TERMS. One (1) of such members SHALL
BEbeing from each of the existing, or hereafter altered, city council districts,
FIVE (5) and three (3) members to serve at large, AND ONE (1) CITY ELECTED
OFFICIAL. If, after reasonable advertisement, no applications are received from residents within the relevant city council district for a vacancy on the authority,
any otherwise qualified resident of the city may be appointed. The at large members may include one (1) elected city official (excluding the mayor), and/or
one (1) non-resident individual who owns an interest in or is a corporate officer
of a licensed business in good standing located within the city. Each appointment to the authority shall be made by the mayor subject to approval
by majority vote of the entire city council. The term of office of each member shall be five (5) years, LIMITED TO TWO CONSECUTIVE TERMS WITH
ELIGIBILITY TO BE APPOINTED AGAIN TWO (2) YEARS AFTER THE END OF
THE SECOND TERM. IN THE EVENT THERE ARE NO APPLICANTS FOR AN UPCOMING VACANCY, THE THEN-CURRENT MEMBER MAY SERVE FOR AN
ADDITIONAL ONE YEAR. THE SEAT OF Aany member (with the exception of a nonresident business owner member) who shall change THEIRhis personal
residence to an address outside the city or outside the district THEYhe
represents shall cease to be a member of the authority and THEIRhis seat shall automatically be deemed vacant as of the date on which THEYhe ceased to be
a resident of the city or of the district. Any nonresident business owner member whose business is no longer in good standing with the city or whose business
ceases operations or moves outside the city limits shall cease to be a member
of the authority and the member's seat shall be deemed vacant as of the date of that occurrence. A member whose term has expired shall continue to hold
office until THEIRhis successor has been appointed and has qualified. Terms of office shall be staggered so that the term of at least one (1) member shall
expire each year. The city council may appoint any number of ex-officio
nonvoting members to serve for terms at the pleasure of the city council.
(c) NON-CITY MEMBERS. THE NON-CITY MEMBERS SHALL BE APPOINTED AS
FOLLOWS: ONE APPOINTED BY THE JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, ONE APPOINTED BY THE JEFFERSON COUNTY
SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND ONE APPOINTED BY THE SPECIAL DISTRICTS
HAVING A MILL LEVY WITHIN THE CITY, AS THOSE DISTRICTS SHALL
MUTUALLY AGREE. THE NON-CITY MEMBERS SHALL SERVE TERMS OF SUCH
DURATION AND UNDER SUCH LIMITATIONS AS THEIR APPOINTING BODIES
SHALL DETERMINE.
Section 2. Effective Date. This Ordinance shall take effect immediately upon
adoption at second reading and signature by the Mayor, as permitted by Section 5.11 of
the Charter.
INTRODUCED, READ, AND ADOPTED on first reading by a vote of 8 to 0 on this
28th day of April 2025, ordered published by title in the newspaper and in full on the City’s website as provided by the Home Rule Charter, and Public Hearing and consideration on
final passage set for May 12, 2025, at 6:30 p.m., in the Council Chambers, 7500 West 29th
Avenue, Wheat Ridge, Colorado.
READ, ADOPTED AND ORDERED PUBLISHED on second and final reading by a vote of 7 to 0, this 12th day of May 2025.
SIGNED by the Mayor on this 14th day of May 2025.
ATTEST:
Margy Greer, Senior Deputy City Clerk
Bud Starker, Mayor
Approved as to Form:
Gerald E. Dahl, City Attorney
First Publication: April 29, 2025
Second Publication: May 13, 2025 Effective Date: May 12, 2025
Published: Jeffco Transcript and www.ci.wheatridge.co.us