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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-07-2025 Study Session NotesCity Council Study Session NOTES CITY OF WHEAT RIDGE, COLORADO 7500 WEST 29TH AVENUE, MUNICIPAL BUILDING  APRIL 07, 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. Roll Call Council Members present: Scott Ohm, Rachel Hultin, Amanda Weaver, Korey Stites, Janeece Hoppe, Leah Dozeman (via Zoom) and Dan Larson. Absent: Jenny Snell Also present: City Manager Patrick Goff; Deputy City Manager Allison Scheck, Police Chief Chris Murtha, Parks and Recreation Director Karen O’Donnell, Sr. Deputy City Clerk Margy Greer and many of the Board and Commissions liaisons and members. 3. Public Comment None. 4. 2024 Boards and Commissions Annual Report Management Analyst Cole Haselip introduced the Report stating the focus is on the 2024 accomplishments of each board or commission and the goals for 2025. There are 9 public bodies with 85 volunteers. Each liaison and/or member of each board/commission presented, including the Election Commission, Board of Adjustment, Building Advisory Code Commission, IDEA Committee, the Community Partners Grant Program, Sustainable Wheat Ridge Committee, Park and Recreation Commission, and the Cultural Commission. A question-and-answer period between Council, staff, and members took place after each presentation. 5. Hotel Licensing Update City Manager Patrick Goff stated that Council passed an ordinance regarding the licensing of hotels and within that ordinance, there was a requirement to give an update to Council every 18 months. He then turned the presentation over to Deputy City Manager Allison Scheck and Police Chief Chris Murtha. Scheck gave a brief presentation stating that on July 15, 2019, there was an extended stay lodging ordinance discussion with Council; July 28, 2021, Council gave direction to staff to draft a hotel licensing ordinance and reach out to the community for feedback; October 25, 2021, Council passed Ordinance 1723 enacting the licensing program; and on August 29, 2023, Council passed Ordinance 1771 updating the ordinance. She reviewed the regulations in place for the hotel licensing program. Chief Murtha spoke to the Calls for Service rate, how the rate is determined, and calls which are not counted toward the Calls for Service program. He showed a slide which showed a drastic reduction in Calls for Service to the local hotels from 2022 to 2024. He then went through the list of hotels in Wheat Ridge and their status of safety-initiated efforts. Goff stated that the American Hotel is the process of being purchased, however, until the power grid is improved by Excel Energy and CDOT approves, the purchase is on hold. Scheck stated that Council had approved a partnership with Family Tree using ARPA funds and were able to provide 40 households/64 individuals in long term, permanent housing. She stated it was a great opportunity. Scheck stated that the City will remain vigilant when it comes to ensuring the Hotel licensing program is followed up and maintained. A question-and-answer period followed between Council and staff. Council directed staff to update the application portion of the code to remove the 18-month update requirement and instead provide for updates to Council as necessary. 6. Outdoor Pool Replacement Community Engagement Parks and Recreation Director Karen O’Donnell stated that staff is looking for grants to help with updating the pool at Anderson Park. She then introduced Sara Heisdorffer, Aquatics Supervisor and Brandon Altenburg, Grants and Special Projects Coordinator, who spoke to the specifics regarding the needed replacement of Anderson Pool. Heisdorffer stated that Anderson Pool opened in 1979 and received a facelift in 2008. However, the 2008 renovation was not enough for the heavy commercial use that the pool receives on a regular basis. Therefore, Anderson Pool is reaching its useful life span. She stated that in the next 3-5 years, Anderson Pool would need to be closed or totally replaced. She spoke to the major failing construction issues that are causing the need for a new pool. Altenburg spoke to the timeline for community engagement which includes questions for the community and stakeholders using the pool regarding whether to replace the pool or close the pool. There will be a large public relations component to the timeline as well. They will be asking for feedback from the public while providing them with information about budget limitations and other issues. Council Comments Council Member Hultin stated that the community outreach planned is impressive. She stated it is important for residents to understand the cost of replacement, why it needs to be replaced rather than renovated, and that Council does not have this in their budget moving forward. An entire community effort will be needed to make this happen. Council Member Ohm asked there is an assessment of who are the biggest user groups. Heisdorffer stated while there are not specific numbers for swim groups and others, however, in the summer of 2024,there were just under 25,000 users. Ohm asked about the City of Arvada’s partnership with Jeffco Schools. Heisdorffer stated that that facility hosts Jeffco schools’ swim meets and classes and therefore has been partially paid for by Jeffco Schools. Ohm asked if some other newer amenities at the pool could make it more inviting. Council Member Dozeman stated she hopes the community supports a new facility, as it is important to her and her family as well. She asked if the new pool facility would be the exact same footprint as the current. O’Donnell stated that decision has not been made at this time. Council Member Larson asked if the survey is currently up online. Altenburg said yes. Altenburg stated he could add the estimated cost of design and construction to the website as well. Larson asked about the possibility of approaching a private company for some type of deal to help fund the building of the pool. Goff stated that any private/public partnerships are on the table at this point. 7. Staff(s) Report City Manager Patrick Goff stated the City is working with the car wash daily to help mitigate the noise issues. Chief Murtha stated that they are working with the car wash and trying to keep the neighbors informed of their progress. There is a court date set for the violation hearing. In answer to another question from Ohm, Goff stated that improvements are being made to the shooting range regarding noise mitigation as well. 8. 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 9. Adjournment There being no further business to come before Council, Mayor Starker adjourned the Study Session at 8:53 p.m. _________________________________ Margy Greer, Sr. Deputy City Clerk _________________________________ Korey Stites, Mayor Pro Tem