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Home My WebLink About01-05-26 Study Session NotesPage 1 of 5 CITY OF WHEAT RIDGE, COLORADO STUDY SESSION NOTES Hybrid – Virtual Meeting Monday, January 5, 2026 Call to Order Mayor Korey Stites called the Council Study Session of January 5, 2026, to order at 6:30 p.m. Attendance Councilmembers present: Rachel Hultin, Dan Larson, Kathleen Martell, Scott Ohm, Patrick Quinn, Jenny Snell, and Susan Wood. Absent: Mike Okada Also present: Deputy City Manager Marianne Schilling, City Attorney Gerald Dahl, and Deputy City Clerk Onorina Maloney. Public Comment There were no public comments. 1. Amusement Arcades and Amusement Centers Deputy City Manager Marianne Schilling presented information on the City’s 1977 ordinance regulating amusement devices. Schilling explained that the ordinance was originally created to ensure amusement devices were not being used as gambling devices but is now outdated. Schilling defined amusement devices as coin‑ or token‑operated machines used for games, entertainment, or tests of skill, such as pinball machines, claw machines, and coin‑operated pool tables. She noted that the City currently categorizes these into three types: • Arcades: 11 or more machines • Amusement centers: 4 to 10 machines Page 2 of 5 • Amusement devices: 1 to 3 machines The City has approximately 50–60 licensed amusement devices in eight locations, with Bowlero being the only venue with 38 machines. Three locations qualify as amusement centers, while the remaining locations host one to three devices. Schilling noted that home gaming has increased as arcade businesses have declined, and most venues with amusement devices also have liquor licenses, making them subject to state law. The Police Department sees no issues with repealing the ordinance. City Attorney Gerald Dahl noted that the ordinance’s criteria are outdated and unfairly deny licenses to non‑gambling businesses. Councilmember Larson asked about grocery store lottery machines, which Dahl explained are governed by state law. Council consensus was reached to advance an ordinance repealing Article 9 of Chapter 11 regarding amusement arcades and devices. 2. Wheat Ridge 2026 Legislative Agenda Senior Management Analyst Cole Haselip described the 2026 legislative advocacy program, which includes four components: • A legislative agenda outlining the bills the City is likely to support or oppose. • The legislative committee, chaired by Councilmember Hultin, with Councilmember Larson as vice chair and Councilmember Okada as a new committee member. • Advocacy position resolutions formalizing Council stances on specific bills. • Targeted lobbying focused on three to five priority bills selected by the committee. Haselip summarized the City’s 2025 legislative positions: • The City opposed SB 25‑001 (Colorado Voting Rights Act), which passed. • The City supported HB 25‑1272 (Construction defects in middle‑market housing), which passed. • The City supported SB 25‑030 (Increased transportation‑mode choice and reduced emissions), which passed. • The City opposed HB 25‑1220 (Regulation of medical nutrition therapy), which was vetoed by the Governor. Page 3 of 5 • The City opposed HB 25‑1300 (Workers’ compensation benefits and proof of entitlement), which passed. Haselip noted that legislative off‑season outreach was conducted to gather feedback on the 2026 legislative agenda, resulting in updates reflecting input from various City boards, commissions, and committees, and highlighting opportunities for collaboration during the legislative session. For 2026, the committee made several changes to the legislative agenda: • Expanded the scope of home rule to include governance. • Updated the public safety section to reflect City‑initiated legislation regarding Automated Vehicle Identification (AVI) use on interstate highways. • Clarified support for a competitive broadband market. • Stated that the City opposes state actions that increase administrative burdens on local businesses. • Added a new section on special districts and utilities. The committee also established threshold criteria for selecting bills to prioritize: • Alignment with the City’s legislative agenda. • Impact on the City of Wheat Ridge. • Community consensus as determined by elected officials. Priority areas for 2026 include: • Housing • Public safety • Utility governance • Transportation Councilmember Hultin emphasized the importance of the threshold criteria, focusing on impacts specific to Wheat Ridge. While the Colorado Municipal League (CML) manages most municipal lobbying, the committee provides a mechanism for addressing misaligned bills or supporting advantageous amendments. Hultin noted improvements in tracking systems and gauging engagement levels, from notifying representatives to providing testimony. Page 4 of 5 Councilmember Snell highlighted the impact of Councilmember Hultin’s presentation to the Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) Committee in fostering awareness and future collaboration. Councilmember Larson described the program’s development as rewarding and noted external recognition. Councilmember Wood asked about the three to five bill limit and whether it could be expanded. Haselip explained that the limit is based on current staffing levels; minor increases are possible, but significant expansion would require additional staff or a lobbyist. Councilmember Wood also asked about the committee’s autonomy, and Councilmember Hultin clarified that positions are taken immediately after committee votes, with formal resolutions later presented to Council. Council reached unanimous consensus to consider adoption of the 2026 legislative agenda at a future meeting. 3. Staff Reports City Attorney Dahl noted that due to a recent Colorado Supreme Court decision, he would bring forward an ordinance at the next meeting regarding municipal court penalty authority. He explained that the Court ruled that when municipal ordinances criminalize conduct identical to state offenses, municipal penalties cannot exceed state maximums. While this will not significantly change penalties imposed in practice, the ordinance is necessary to comply with the ruling. 4. Elected Officials’ Reports Councilmember Snell announced that she and Councilmember Martell would begin holding biweekly office hours in District 1, starting January 6 from 9–11 a.m. at Mountain Milk Coffee. She also highlighted the Parks and Recreation Department’s Christmas tree recycling program, available until February 1 at Panorama Park and Anderson Park. Councilmember Larson shared observations about the completion of the Wadsworth Boulevard project, noting that while the continuous‑flow intersections require some adjustment, the removal of construction cones was welcome. He identified areas needing attention, including traffic light timing, lane shifts, landscaping concerns, and graffiti on sound walls. Overall, he expressed optimism about improved safety and renewed commercial interest along the corridor. Councilmember Martell reported successfully navigating a continuous‑flow intersection turn for the first time and was impressed with the three lanes on Wadsworth Boulevard. Page 5 of 5 Councilmember Hultin highlighted improvements including the continuous lane from I‑70 to southbound Wadsworth Boulevard and the pedestrian/bicycle crossing options at the intersections, though she noted that pedestrians must push the button to activate crossing signals. Councilmember Wood shared information from a Colorado Sun article about carbon emissions, noting that despite Colorado’s environmental consciousness, the state ranks 26th in carbon emissions, with transportation—particularly single‑occupancy vehicles— being a major contributor in the Front Range. Councilmember Quinn expressed appreciation for the controlled left turns at the Wadsworth Boulevard intersections and hoped similar improvements might be implemented at other intersections in the future. Mayor Stites noted that the Wadsworth grant recovery program deadline for businesses had been extended to January 31. He also announced that Coffee with the Mayor would be held on Saturday at Mountain Milk at 9:00 a.m., and that the next Council meeting would be January 12 at 6:30 p.m., when a new Mayor Pro Tem would be elected. Adjournment There being no further business to come before Council, the Mayor adjourned the Study Session at 7:24 p.m. Rachel Hultin, Mayor Pro Tem Onorina Z. Maloney, Interim Senior Deputy City Clerk