HomeMy WebLinkAbout06 -02- 2025 Study Session NotesCity Council Study Session
NOTES
CITY OF WHEAT RIDGE, COLORADO 7500 WEST 29TH AVENUE, MUNICIPAL BUILDING
June 2, 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 Study Session to order at 6:30 p.m.
2. Roll Call Council Members present: Scott Ohm, Rachel Hultin, Amanda Weaver, Korey Stites, Jenny Snell, Janeece Hoppe (via Zoom), and Dan Larson.
Absent: Leah Dozeman Staff present: City Manager Patrick Goff, Assistant City Manager Marianne Schilling, Management Analyst Cole Haselip, Police Chief Chris Murtha, Police Sgt. Lucas Hunt, and Sr. Deputy City Clerk Margy Greer.
3. Public Comment
Wheat Ridge Speaks None.
In Person Mike Okada – Resident – spoke in favor of the staff recommendations regarding the animal control amendments to the municipal code.
Via Zoom
None.
4. Animal Control Amendments Management Analyst Cole Haselip presented several proposed amendments to the municipal code regarding animals and gave a PowerPoint presentation regarding same.
There was consensus reached by City Council to move forward with all the recommended changes with the exceptions of the following which were postponed and sent back to staff for further review, better explanation, or proposed changes: Section 4-154(d) of the municipal code – Specific Animals Enumerated Council asked for additional information regarding swine and endangered
animals.
Section 4-17-(a) and (b) – Vicious animal Defenses Council asked for more information and better definitions regarding the definition of Aggressive, Dangerous, and Vicious animal categories.
Section 4-17(e)(3) – Childproof Structures of Dangerous Dogs Council asked for further definition, as this appeared redundant. Section 4-17(e)(9) – Transfer of Dangerous Dogs
Council asked for further explanation of who could transfer dogs.
New Section – Item T: Regulating the Sale of Animals in Public Spaces Council asked for further explanation regarding individual residents selling animals and signage involved therewith.
There was direction given to staff from Council to bring a draft back to Council for review at another study session. 5. Social Club Amendments
City Manager Patrick Goff introduced the item stating that it was brought forward at the
request of Swiss Flower and Gifts. Heidi from Swiss Flower and Gifts stated that they
were told by a city inspector that they needed to have a social club license if they were
going to rent out their venue for activities. Heidi stated they mostly have Celebrations of
Life memorials in the building and was unaware that it was considered a social club.
The fee for the license makes it cost-prohibitive to operate.
Management Analyst Cole Haslip stated that staff had reviewed the provisions in the
Municipal Code and made recommendations to have provisions in the Code for Low-
Impact Social Clubs which would not be as highly regulated.
After a lengthy discussion amongst Council Members, it was decided to have staff
review the Code provisions again and offer some different options for different types of
venues. Goff stated that one option would be to repeal the requirement
6. City Manager’s Report
City Manager Patrick Goff stated that in the first week of camera speeding surveillance,
ticketing, there were 1,231 citations issued.
7. Elected Officials’ Report
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.
89. Adjournment
There being no further business to come before Council, Mayor Starker adjourned the
Study Session at 9:16 p.m.
_________________________________
Margy Greer, Sr. Deputy City Clerk
_________________________________
Bud Starker, Mayor