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City of Wheat Ridge, CO Study Session Notes -November 10, 2025
SPECIAL STUDY SESSION NOTES
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
CITY OF WHEAT RIDGE, COLORADO
DATE: Monday, November 10, 2025
Note: This meeting started at the conclusion of the Regular City Council meeting
which started at 6:30 p.m. This meeting was conducted as a hybrid meeting, where
some members of the Council or City staff were physically present at the Municipal building located at: 7500 West 29th Avenue, Council Chambers and some members of
the public attended in person as well. Before calling the meeting to order, Mayor Stites
stated the rules and procedures necessitated by this meeting format.
1. Call to Order
Mayor Korey Stites called the meeting to order at 7:33 p.m.
Councilmembers present: Rachel Hultin, Dan Larson, Scott Ohm, Jenny Snell, Patrick
Quinn, Kathleen Martell, and Mike Okada.
Also present: City Manager Patrick Goff, City Attorney Gerald Dahl, Interim Deputy City Manager Marianne Schilling, Deputy City Clerk Onorina Maloney, and other staff and
interested residents.
As there were no public comments on the Agenda, Mayor Stites called on City Attorney Gerald Dahl.
2. Council Orientation
City Attorney Gerald Dahl conducted an orientation session for the City Council,
expressing his commitment to public service and explaining that local government's
product is "making people's lives better" through services like parks, zoning regulations, police protection, public works, and courts.
Dahl covered several key topics:
Home Rule Charter: He explained that Wheat Ridge operates under a home rule charter
adopted in 1976, allowing the city to enact ordinances that may differ from state
statutes on local matters. The mayor must vote in case of a tie except on budget matters, and mayoral vetoes require a 3/4 majority (6 members) to override.
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City of Wheat Ridge, CO Study Session Notes -November 10, 2025
Code of Laws: The largest section is the land use code, but the code also covers
administration, animals, buildings, elections, and other municipal matters.
Voter Roles: Voters have formal roles through elections, initiatives, referendums, and recalls, plus an important informal role in communicating with elected officials.
City Council Structure: Council acts as a group by motion, resolution, and ordinance.
Five members constitute a quorum, and ordinances require at least 5 affirmative votes.
Council only appoints three employees: the city manager, city attorney, and municipal
judge.
Ethics and Conflicts of Interest: Council members must disclose conflicts of interest
and step down from voting when they have significant financial interest in matters
before the council. Dahl emphasized that he is available to help navigate these
situations.
Quasi-Judicial Matters: Land use cases require council members to avoid ex parte communications with applicants or opponents. Dahl provided guidance on handling
situations when constituents try to discuss pending cases.
Open Meetings: When three or more council members discuss city business, it
constitutes an open meeting. When five members (a quorum) meet, 24-hour notice is
required. Executive sessions are permitted for limited purposes including legal advice,
pending litigation, personnel matters, and real estate appraisals.
Email Communication: Council members should be careful not to create "meetings"
through email chains and should use city email for city business to facilitate records
requests.
In response to questions:
• Councilmember Larson asked about sharing information via email, and Dahl
advised routing materials through staff rather than directly to all council members.
• Councilmember Hultin asked about three-person meetings and was advised that
they must be open to the public, even if it is in a private residence.
• Councilmember Okada asked about the meaning of "stepping down" with a
conflict of interest, and Dahl explained it means recusing oneself and physically leaving the room during that agenda item.
3. City Manager’s Matters
City Manager Patrick Goff noted that orientation would continue in future sessions, and that with Mayor Stites' elevation from Mayor Pro Tem to Mayor, the City would be
without a Mayor Pro Tem until January.
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City of Wheat Ridge, CO Study Session Notes -November 10, 2025
4. Elected Officials’ Report
Councilmember Snell encouraged councilmembers to support food drives and clothing
drives throughout the community. She expressed optimism about working with the new council members.
Mayor Stites reminded councilmembers to "go hard on the issues, not on each other"
and work together as a team. He noted that a study session would be held the following
Monday wherein the municipal judge would provide an update on the court.
5. Adjournment
With no further business to come before Council, Mayor Stites adjourned the Special
Study Session at 8:30 p.m.
Korey Stites, Mayor Pro Tem
Onorina Maloney. Deputy City Clerk