HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-12-26 City Council Meeting MinutesPage 1 of 7
MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
CITY OF WHEAT RIDGE, COLORADO
Monday, January 12, 2026, 6:30 p.m.
The meeting was held in a hybrid format, with Councilmembers, City staff, and
members of the public participating either in person at the Municipal Building (7500
W. 29th Avenue, Wheat Ridge, Colorado) or virtually.
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Korey Stites called the regular meeting of the City Council to order at 6:30 p.m.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Those present stood, if able, and recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL OF MEMBERS
Present: Rachel Hultin, Dan Larson, Kathleen Martell, Scott Ohm, Mike Okada, Patrick
Quinn, Jenny Snell, Susan Wood.
A quorum was established.
Also present: City Manager Patrick Goff, Deputy City Manager Marianne Schilling, City
Attorney Gerald Dahl, Manager of People and Culture Carli Seeba, and Interim Senior
Deputy City Clerk Onorina Maloney.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Council approved the Study Session Notes of December 1, 2025, the City Council
Meeting Minutes of December 8, 2025, and the Study Session Notes of December 15,
2025, without changes.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
The agenda was approved as presented.
PROCLAMATIONS AND CEREMONIES
1. Proclamation – National Radon Month
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Mayor Stites presented a proclamation declaring January 1–31, 2026, as National
Radon Action Month in Jefferson County. The proclamation highlighted that radon is an
invisible, odorless radioactive gas that poses a significant health risk, and Colorado is ranked as Zone 1 (highest radon potential) by the Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA). Data indicates that approximately 50 percent of tested Colorado homes have radon levels at or above the EPA's action level.
Tracy Volkmann of Jefferson County Public Health accepted the proclamation and
thanked the City Council for its commitment to public health issues and community awareness. She informed residents that free radon testing kits are available at
jefferson.radon.com and noted that Colorado has the highest risk for radon exposure.
PUBLIC’S RIGHT TO SPEAK
Morgan Richards, a Wheat Ridge resident and member of the Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility Committee, spoke in support of an equity audit, emphasizing its
significance for community safety and responding to hate symbols. She also urged
Council to support the Police Department in adhering to constitutional requirements regarding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) requests that lack judicial
warrants.
Anli Ni, a Lakewood resident, inquired about the Lutheran Legacy campus
redevelopment, specifically regarding material salvage from building demolitions. As a structural engineer with KL&A Engineers, she shared insights from a Boulder project on
landfill diversion and suggested further discussions on material reuse.
1. CONSENT AGENDA
a. Resolution No. 01-2026 – Resolution designating official public notice locations for
City publications in 2026
ISSUE:
State statutes require that each municipality annually establish the location for posting
public notices, as well as the newspaper in which notices will be published. Local
government entities are also allowed to publish notices online for public meetings.
These include meetings at which the adoption of any proposed policy, position,
resolution, rule, regulation, or formal action occurs or meetings at which a majority or
quorum of the body is in attendance.
Councilmember Okada read the title and issue into the record
b. Motion to cancel the March 16, 2026, City Council Study Session
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ISSUE:
The City Council Study Session on March 16, 2026, currently coincides with the NLC
Conference located in Washington D.C. As multiple members of the City Council will be attending the NLC Conference when this meeting is scheduled to occur, staff is
requesting to cancel the March 16, 2026, Study Session.
Councilmember Okada read the title and issue into the record.
c. Motion to approve monthly payments to Colorado Employer Benefit Trust (CEBT) for
2026 medical, dental, employee assistance program, and life insurance membership
billing in an amount not to exceed $2,775,977.
ISSUE:
The City offers employees a number of benefits in order to attract and retain a high-
quality workforce. In 2023, the City joined the Colorado Employer Benefit Trust (CEBT) to provide a greater choice than previously offered of medical plans along with dental,
vision, employee assistance program (EAP) and life insurance coverage. January
through December billing is estimated and budgeted in the amount of $2,775,977. Staff
requests approval of the estimated 2026 total expenditure so that monthly payments
can be made in a timely manner.
Councilmember Okada read the title and issue into the record.
d. Motion to approve payment to Colorado Intergovernmental Risk Sharing Agency
(CIRSA) for the 2026 Property and Casualty premium in the amount of $720,064
ISSUE:
The Colorado Intergovernmental Risk Sharing Agency (CIRSA) provides property and casualty coverage for the City of Wheat Ridge. The total premium payment due for 2026
is $720,064 and is split into quarterly payments.
Councilmember Okada read the title and issue into the record.
Motion: Councilmember Okada moved to approve Consent Agenda Items 1a through
1d.
Second: Councilmember Ohm.
Vote: 8 ayes; 0 nays.
Motion carried.
PUBLIC HEARINGS AND ORDINANCES ON SECOND READING
None.
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ORDINANCES ON FIRST READING
2. Council Bill 01-2026, amending the Code of Laws to align with certain provisions
of state law.
ISSUE:
This ordinance amends the penalty authority of the municipal court for municipal code
offenses which are identical to state law offenses (including, importantly, theft and shoplifting). This change is required as a result of a December 22, 2025, decision of the
Colorado Supreme Court.
Councilmember Martell read the title and issue into the record.
Motion: Councilmember Martell moved to approve Council Bill 01-2026, amending the
Code of Laws to align with certain provisions of state law, order it published, public
hearing set for January 26, 2026, at 6:30 pm in City Council chambers, and if adopted take
effect fifteen days after final publication as required by the Home Rule Charter.
Second: Councilmember Snell. Vote: 8 ayes; 0 nays
Motion carried.
DECISIONS, RESOLUTIONS, AND MOTIONS
3. Motion to elect the Mayor Pro Tem
ISSUE:
Each year City Council Members elect by a majority vote a Mayor Pro Tem who serves
until their successor is elected. The election is conducted according to Section III (B) of
the City Council Rules of Order and Procedure as follows:
B. MAYOR PRO TEM
1. At the first or second Regular meeting in January of each year, the Council shall elect
a Mayor Pro Tem who shall serve until their successor is elected. The procedure shall be
as follows: a) The Chair will announce that the floor is open for nominations for the position of Mayor
Pro Tem.
b) Nominations will be taken from City Council members by voice. No second is needed.
c) Each nominee will have the opportunity to address the Council.
d) A motion and second is then in order to elect one of the nominees to the position of Mayor Pro Tem. If the motion is not carried, additional motions are in order until a Mayor
Pro Tem is elected by a majority of Council present.
Councilmember Larson read the title and issue into the record.
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Councilmember Larson nominated Councilmember Scott Ohm for Mayor Pro Tem.
Councilmember Hultin nominated herself for Mayor Pro Tem.
Each nominee addressed the Council. Councilmember Ohm expressed that it was an
honor to be nominated and spoke about the importance of the role, pledging to be a
humble leader who would earn everyone's vote.
Councilmember Hultin referenced her previous experience as Mayor Pro Tem in 2022-
2023, highlighting her skills in project management, balancing priorities, and finding a
nexus among council, mayor, staff, and community voices.
Motion: Moved by Councilmember Larson to elect Councilmember Scott Ohm as Mayor Pro Tem effective immediately, with the term to expire upon election of a successor.
Second: Councilmember Okada.
Vote: 2 ayes; 6 nays.
Ayes: Larson and Ohm.
Nays: Okada, Hultin, Snell, Martell, Quinn, Wood. Motion failed.
Motion: Moved by Councilmember Martell to elect Councilmember Hultin as Mayor Pro
Tem effective immediately, with the term to expire upon election of a successor.
Second: Councilmember Snell Vote: 8 ayes; 0 nays.
Motion carried.
4. Motion to approve agreement relating to City of Wheat Ridge sales and use taxes
between the City and Intermountain Front Range, Inc., d/b/a Intermountain Health
Lutheran Hospital, and authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to execute the same.
ISSUE:
As a part of its relationship with Lutheran Hospital (operated by Exempla at the old
campus and currently by Intermountain Health at the new campus),
the City has maintained agreements defining and quantifying the number of sales and
use taxes paid to the City. These agreements have been amended multiple times to address changing conditions but have always established a total payment amount and
schedule. This mechanism has benefited both parties by making the administration of
sales and use tax as applicable to a complex operation administratively
streamlined. The parties have again revised the Agreement to address both the
provider's legal name change and, importantly, the relocation of the main hospital while retaining some hospital functions at the old campus.
Councilmember Wood read the title and issue into the record.
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City Attorney Dahl provided background regarding the complexity of Lutheran Hospital’s
operations and the fixed monthly payment structure. For more than 20 years, the City and Lutheran have used a fixed monthly payment instead of tracking each taxable
activity. The current rate is $20,246 per month, rising 5% every other year. The agreement does not cover private physicians, who are still taxed normally. Dahl added
that the exemption will continue for the limited services Lutheran keeps operating at the
old campus.
Motion: Councilmember Wood moved to approve the Agreement relating to City of
Wheat Ridge sales and use taxes between the City and Intermountain Front Range, Inc.,
d/b/a Intermountain Health Lutheran Hospital and authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to
execute the same. Second: Mayor Pro Tem Hultin.
Vote: 8 ayes; 0 nays.
Motion carried.
CITY MANAGER’S MATTERS
City Manager Goff announced that the annual Board and Commission application period is open, with applications due January 15, 2026. He also noted that the
application period for the City Clerk position is open until January 23, 2026.
CITY ATTORNEY’S MATTERS
City Attorney Dahl informed that Municipal Court Prosecutor Donna Schneider will retire
after 20 years. Interim coverage is being arranged while a Request for Proposal (RFP)
for a permanent replacement is issued. The position is expected to be filled by late February. He also noted that Judge Lucero’s term as Presiding Municipal Judge is up
for reappointment in June 2026, and materials for Council's decision will be prepared.
ELECTED OFFICIALS’ MATTERS
Councilmember Wood reported no matters.
Councilmember Okada reported no matters.
Councilmember Quinn announced a planned District 3 meet-and-greet update on January 31, 2026 from 9:00-10 a.m. at the Recreation Center
Councilmember Larson thanked Public Works for resolving lighting issues at the I-70
and Garrison Street underpass, reported coyote sightings on the Clear Creek Greenbelt,
and noted the start of the Tabor Lake path project.
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Councilmember Martell announced District 1 office hours would be held the following
week at Mountain Milk within Wolf and Wildflower from 9:00-11:00 a.m. and recognized
her 100-year-old neighbor who has lived in Wheat Ridge since before its incorporation.
Councilmember Ohm reported on experiencing the Continuous Flow Intersection at 38th Avenue and Wadsworth Boulevard, suggesting additional signage to prevent illegal right
turns. He expressed support for the new red light and speed cameras.
Councilmember Snell thanked residents who attended District 1 coffee meetings and
acknowledged community members for snow shoveling after recent winter weather.
Mayor Pro Tem Hultin reported on work with neighbors around noise issues at the 44th
Avenue carwash, shared that Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) is working on a regional housing strategy update, and warned of a proposed bill that would
negatively impact urban renewal and Tax Increment Financing (TIF) programs.
Mayor Stites thanked former Senior Deputy City Clerk Margy Greer, who recently retired,
highlighting her exceptional service in guiding Councilmembers through elections,
managing petitions with professionalism, and contributing significantly to the City’s governance. He also reported a strong turnout of about 25 people at the recent Coffee
with the Mayor event at Mountain Milk, noted his upcoming role as emcee for the Wheat Ridge Business Association meeting. He announced that the Wadsworth grant program
deadline has been extended to January 31, 2026. The Mayor reminded everyone that
there will be no meeting next Monday due to Martin Luther King Jr. Day and encouraged residents to drive carefully in winter conditions.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before Council, Mayor Stites adjourned the
regular meeting at 7:19 p.m.
_____________________________________
Rachel Hultin, Mayor Pro Tem
__________________________________________
Onorina Z. Maloney, Interim Senior Deputy City Clerk