HomeMy WebLinkAbout04.06.26 Study Session NotesPage 1 of 6
NOTES
CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION
CITY OF WHEAT RIDGE, COLORADO
Hybrid Meeting
Monday, April 6, 2026
The study session was held in a hybrid format, with Councilmembers and
staff participating in person at the Municipal Building (7500 West 29th
Avenue) in Council Chambers, and members of the public able to observe
and participate either in person or virtually.
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Korey Stites called the City Council Study Session of April 6, 2026, to order at
6:30 p.m.
ATTENDANCE
Councilmembers Present: Rachel Hultin, Dan Larson, Kathleen Martell, Scott Ohm, Mike
Okada, Patrick Quinn, Jenny Snell, and Susan Wood.
Absent: None
Staff in attendance: City Manager Patrick Goff, Deputy City Manager Marianne Schilling,
City Attorney Gerald Dahl (via Zoom), Chief of Police Chris Murtha, Director of
Community Development Lauren Mikulak, Director of Parks and Recreation Karen
O’Donnell, Planning Manager Jana Easley, Housing Navigator Kory Kolar, and Senior
Deputy City Clerk Onorina Maloney
PUBLIC COMMENTS ON AGENDA ITEMS
No public comments were received in person, via Zoom, or via Wheat Ridge Speaks.
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1. 2025 Boards and Commissions Annual Report
Deputy City Manager Marianne Schilling introduced the annual report, noting it was
prepared in response to Council’s request and highlighting the City’s nine boards and commissions and more than 85 volunteers.
Election Commission Senior Deputy City Clerk Onorina Maloney presented on behalf of the Commission,
describing its role under the City Charter. She noted the Commission did not meet in
2025, as no issues arose requiring action, and will convene as needed. Council asked
about reappointments and expressed appreciation for long-serving members.
Building Code Advisory Board Director of Community Development Lauren Mikulak described the Board’s role in
hearing appeals and noted it met twice in 2025 related to adoption of updated building
codes. No appeals were filed. The Board is expected to address follow-up items in
2026.
Board of Adjustment Planning Manager Jana Easley, joined by board member Alistair Huber, explained the
Board’s quasi-judicial role in reviewing variances. The Board did not meet in 2025 and
has met once in 2026. Easley noted that variances exceeding 50 percent are reviewed
by the Board, while smaller variances are handled administratively. Council asked about
term limits and variance thresholds.
Planning Commission
Planning Manager Jana Easley, joined by Chair Kristine Disney and Commissioner Anna
Sparks, described the Commission’s role in development review and long-range
planning. She noted the Commission’s work on development applications, code
amendments, and adoption of the City Plan. Additional work is anticipated in 2026 related to Plan implementation and state legislation. Council discussed district
representation and appointment flexibility.
IDEA Committee
Co-chairs Edward Nepomuceno and Terra Greer highlighted the Committee’s
participation in community events, engagement with staff, and input on City initiatives. They noted upcoming efforts focused on training, outreach, and internal equity work.
Council expressed appreciation for the Committee’s work.
Community Partners Grant Program
Housing Navigator Kory Kolar reported that the Committee reviewed 43 applications
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totaling nearly $500,000 and recommended $200,000 in awards. He noted that staff will
return to Council to discuss potential program updates.
Sustainable Wheat Ridge Committee Chair Stew Stewart and Vice Chair Conner Denton highlighted sustainability initiatives,
outreach efforts, and expansion of the Green Business Program. The Committee plans to continue programming and pursue grant opportunities in 2026.
Parks and Recreation Commission
Director of Parks and Recreation Karen O’Donnell, presenting on behalf of Chair Andrew Rasmussen, reviewed the Commission’s involvement in projects, events, and
community engagement. She noted upcoming work including the Pathway update and Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA)
reaccreditation.
Cultural Commission
Chair Celia Daley highlighted arts programming, community events, and grantmaking
efforts, noting plans to expand programming and funding opportunities in 2026.
Council expressed appreciation to all board and commission members for their service.
2. Public Opinion Research and Community Engagement Planning
Regarding Capital Project Funding
City Manager Patrick Goff introduced the item and Director of Administrative Services
Chris Molison, noting this was intended as a primer for the upcoming capital
improvement and financial feasibility workshop.
Goff provided an overview of the City’s infrastructure funding gap, explaining that
capital needs across transportation, parks and recreation, and public facilities exceed
available revenue. He noted that existing funding sources are not sufficient to meet
long-term maintenance and improvement needs.
Goff reviewed the City’s prior approach to ballot measures, including the DIRT (Drainage
Infrastructure Roads and Trails) Task Force efforts and the successful 2016 and 2023 ballot measures. He noted that those efforts combined community engagement with
polling to identify priorities and build voter support, and that the 2023 measure in
particular reflected strong community alignment.
Goff described a proposed dual-track approach for 2026 and beyond, combining
scientific polling and community engagement. He explained that polling would provide statistically valid data on voter awareness, priorities, and support for potential funding
scenarios, while community engagement would allow for broader input from residents,
businesses, and underrepresented groups.
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He noted that polling can help test specific project types, funding levels, and messaging,
and can provide guidance on whether a ballot measure is likely to be successful. He
added that polling firms typically look for support in the range of 58 to 60 percent or higher before proceeding.
Goff outlined anticipated costs for polling, generally ranging from $15,000 to $25,000 depending on scope, and explained that multiple rounds of polling are often used to
refine options and messaging.
He also reviewed legal considerations, noting that the City may conduct polling and community engagement prior to referring a ballot measure, but must remain neutral and
cannot advocate once a ballot question is formally adopted.
Goff presented a preliminary timeline for a potential November 2026 election, including
development of polling questions in the spring, polling and outreach in late spring and
early summer, Council direction in mid-summer, and ballot language approval by late August.
Council discussion included reflections on the 2023 ballot measure process, with members noting that initial polling revealed different community priorities than
expected and helped refine the final proposal. Councilmembers discussed the
importance of reaching a broad cross-section of the community, including underrepresented populations, and ensuring that engagement efforts go beyond those
who typically participate.
Council also discussed polling methodology, including how questions are developed,
the role of Council in shaping those questions, and how results are interpreted and used
to guide decision-making.
Several Councilmembers raised considerations related to current economic conditions
and cost-of-living concerns, noting the importance of timing and community sensitivity
when considering future funding measures.
Goff noted that the upcoming workshop would provide additional detail on project
costs, funding capacity, and potential scenarios to support Council’s future direction.
STAFF REPORTS
City Attorney Gerald Dahl, participating remotely, provided advance notice of an
upcoming ordinance related to vehicular eluding. He explained that the City’s existing
vehicular public nuisance ordinance addressing street racing has been effective, but has
revealed a gap in addressing situations where drivers elude police due to restrictions on
high-speed pursuits. The proposed ordinance would allow officers to tow and impound vehicles identified through license plate information when those vehicles are later
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located, even if not stopped at the time of the incident. The ordinance will be presented
in more detail at second reading on April 27, 2026.
City Manager Patrick Goff provided an update on logistics for the upcoming April 11, 2026 Council workshop, including location, schedule, and agenda materials. He noted
the workshop will focus on capital project priorities, financial capacity, and potential funding scenarios to support Council discussion and decision-making.
ELECTED OFFICIALS’ REPORTS
Councilmember Martell thanked attendees at the Clear Creek Makerspace’s second
anniversary celebration and announced the restart of District 1 office hours with
Councilmember Snell, to be held on the first and third Tuesday mornings at Anne’s Pie
Café.
Councilmember Quinn thanked board and commission volunteers and noted the successful Easter egg hunt. He also reported on a District 3 meeting held with
Councilmember Wood with approximately twelve attendees, where residents provided feedback on communication, bicycle and e-bike concerns, and off-leash dogs.
Councilmember Wood echoed appreciation for community participation at the District 3
meeting and noted that the feedback received would help improve future meetings.
Councilmember Ohm reported increased neighborhood activity and ongoing concerns
regarding off-leash dogs behind Wilmore Davis Elementary School.
Mayor Pro Tem Hultin announced that the animal ordinance would be removed from
Monday’s agenda and brought back to study session to address specific items. She
also noted the opening of Happiness Gardens and reiterated concerns about off-leash dogs at Wilmore Davis Elementary School.
Councilmember Larson shared a positive conversation with residents regarding neighborhood improvements, attended a Coors bottling plant tour, and participated in a
Donor Alliance flag-raising event at the high school.
Councilmember Snell, participating remotely, promoted the “Sustainabili-tea” event at
Panorama Park scheduled for April 18, 2026.
Councilmember Okada expressed appreciation for community volunteers and shared enthusiasm for the upcoming Artemis II mission.
Mayor Stites reported attending the Optimist Club meeting, Everett’s International Night,
Miss Watchman’s civics class, the Clear Creek Makerspace celebration, a Chamber
luncheon featuring the State of the City presentation, and the Primrose ribbon cutting at
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Clear Creek Crossing. He also observed the American Motel demolition with
Councilmember Larson and City Manager Goff.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Stites adjourned the April 6, 2026, Study Session at 8:22 p.m.
_____________________________
Rachel Hultin, Mayor Pro Tem
__________________________________________________
Onorina Maloney, Senior Deputy City Clerk