Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout04.13.26 City Council Meeting MintuesPage 1 of 8 MINUTES CITY COUNCIL MEETING CITY OF WHEAT RIDGE, COLORADO Monday, April 13, 2026 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 Stites called the regular City Council meeting to order on April 13, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Those present stood, if able, and recited the Pledge of Allegiance. ROLL CALL OF MEMBERS Councilmembers Present: Rachel Hultin, Dan Larson, Kathleen Martell, Scott Ohm, Mike Okada, Patrick Quinn, Jenny Snell, and Susan Wood. Absent: None A quorum was established. STAFF IN ATTENDANCE City Manager Patrick Goff, City Attorney Gerald Dahl, Deputy City Manager Marianne Schilling, City Clerk Janeece Hoppe, Senior Deputy City Clerk Onorina Maloney, and Deputy City Clerk Lucy Spalenka. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Council approved the City Council Meeting Minutes of March 23, 2026, and the Special Study Session Notes of March 23, 2026, as presented. Page 2 of 8 APPROVAL OF AGENDA Mayor Stites announced Council's intent to continue the public hearing for Council Bill No. 07-2026 (animal welfare ordinance) to June 8, 2026, with a study session on May 18, 2026. No presentation or testimony was taken. Council had no objection to this continuation. PROCLAMATIONS AND CEREMONIES Proclamation – Child Abuse Prevention Month Mayor Stites presented a proclamation designating April 2026 as Child Abuse Prevention Month to Patricia Riffle from Rawson House Child Advocacy Center. Riffle thanked the Council, emphasizing how the proclamation strengthens children's voices and demonstrates the community’s collaboration with those who speak out about abuse. Proclamation – Sexual Assault Awareness Month Mayor Stites proclaimed April 2026 as Sexual Assault Awareness Month and April 29 as Colorado Denim Day to Brie Miller from Victim Outreach, who underscored the honor of supporting crime victims and the vital role of police partnerships in providing resources and support. Oath of Office – Senior Deputy City Clerk, Onorina Maloney City Clerk Janeece Hoppe administered the oath of office to Onorina Maloney for Senior Deputy City Clerk. Maloney thanked City leadership and the community for their trust, reaffirming her commitment to serving with purpose and leading with kindness. Oath of Office – Deputy City Clerk, Lucy Spalenka Senior Deputy City Clerk Onorina Maloney administered the oath of office to Lucy Spalenka for Deputy City Clerk. Spalenka thanked the Council for the opportunity and expressed excitement about contributing to the Clerk’s Office in the future PUBLIC’S RIGHT TO SPEAK In person Michael Moody-Wheat Ridge resident - addressed traffic safety concerns at 38th Avenue and High Court. He recounted a near miss involving a student and a speeding driver running a red light and other red-light violations resulting in collisions. Moody urged installation of rumble strips and a crossing guard during school hours. Page 3 of 8 Melanie Lucier- Wheat Ridge resident- echoed Moody's concerns, recounting a near- miss incident with her son in a crosswalk due to a speeding driver running a red light. Lucier also requested clarification regarding contact points and the roles for the 30th Street Main Street Refresh consultant team to facilitate coordination on safety initiatives. Greg Primavera -Wheat Ridge resident- reiterated complaints about Lakeside Car Wash, frustrated by inconsistency in closing north bay doors and maintaining "do not enter" signs on Grace Street. He expressed intent to gather more petition signatures, stressing the goal of reducing noise rather than closing the business. Gretchen Josten- Wheat Ridge resident- voiced frustration that despite over a year and five months without attendance due to promised improvements, the car wash situation is unchanged, with all three bay doors open. She demanded compliance with the June 24, 2025, citation for doors to remain closed during operations, effective noise mitigation on east and north property lines, operation restricted to 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. according to state law, and enforcement measures against noncompliance. Chris Nietzold- Wheat Ridge resident- questioned why residents must keep returning to address the same issues after 14 months. He expressed frustration at having to take time from flight school studies to repeatedly address the noise problem. Nietzold compared the situation to his Virginia business experience where a small town had foresight to deny his permit for potential future road expansion, contrasting with what he sees as a special use permit giving the car wash "carte blanche." He emphasized the ongoing noise disruption residents endure daily. Jan Facinelli- Wheat Ridge resident- expressed feeling "shoved aside" after initially feeling hopeful about city support. She described disappointment with the sound study process, noting that despite agreements for notification and comprehensive testing with various door configurations, residents were excluded from the actual study. Facinelli reported her own decibel readings exceeding 85 with one bay operating and doors open. She noted the sound engineer deemed the installed fence merely "decorative" rather than effective sound mitigation, requiring four additional feet of height for effectiveness. Facinelli questioned the status of the special use permit and expressed being "fed up" with the lack of resolution. Via Zoom: Sandra Sands (not online at time of meeting) Gretchen Josten (addressed in person; no Zoom participation) Wheat Ridge Speaks: Item: Public Comments Page 4 of 8 Kyle Edewaard Comment received on April 13, 2026, ∙ 9:34am I’m writing in regard to the opportunity we have with the Wilmore-Davis Elementary plot. In a city as established as Wheat Ridge, it’s not often we have the ability to develop a new park, and I’d like to encourage the City Council to take advantage of it. The City Plan describes the surrounding areas as a wide range of place types: low variety neighborhood, high variety neighborhood, and regional mixed-use. Now that the Wadsworth project is complete, I’d ask the City Council to look ten or twenty years into the future when this corridor is more developed and when Wadsworth (with its zoning height exemption) is lined with apartment buildings and more townhomes are added to the high variety neighborhood. There will be a great need for all these additional children to have a safe neighborhood play area. Playgrounds and sports fields which these kids can access without having to cross the busy wide streets of Wadsworth and 38th, or taking the long hike down the steep hill to Anderson, will be an anchor to future development and neighborhood character. It’s imperative to the physical and mental health of kids that they have safe places to play outside. Please consider preserving the sports fields and playgrounds of Wilmore-Davis to be this place for our current and future children. 1. CONSENT AGENDA None PUBLIC HEARINGS AND ORDINANCES ON SECOND READING 1. Council Bill No. 07-2026 - An ordinance amending the Wheat Ridge Municipal Code concerning animal welfare and regulations for the same. ISSUE: Several sections of the City’s animal code are outdated, inconsistent, confusing, or do not reflect current needs or practices. As such, Staff propose several amendments to the Wheat Ridge Animal and Land Use Code for City Council’s consideration. Mayor Pro Tem Hultin read the title and issue into the record. Mayor Stites opened the public hearing. Motion: Mayor ProTem Hultin moved to continue the public hearing for Council Bill No. 07-2026, an ordinance amending the Wheat Ridge Code of Laws concerning animal Page 5 of 8 welfare and regulations for the same, to the regular business meeting of the Council scheduled to commence at 6:30 p.m. on June 8, 2026. Second: Councilmember Okada Vote: 8 ayes; 0 nays. Motion to continue the public hearing to June 8, 2026, carried. 2. Council Bill No. 08-2026 – an ordinance amending Chapter 13 of the Wheat Ridge Code of Laws concerning vehicles and traffic by adding a new Section 13-7, concerning the violation of vehicle registration requirements to allow for the citation of vehicle registration violations into municipal court. ISSUE: Colorado House Bill 25-1112 empowers local authorities in Colorado to enforce vehicle registration laws, enabling them to issue penalties for unregistered vehicles within their jurisdictions. This ordinance was modeled to incorporate elements of the new law for enforcement within the City. Councilmember Larson read the title and issue into the record. Mayor Stites opened the public hearing. City Attorney Dahl explained that the new state statute authorizes municipalities to enforce vehicle registration violations by issuing citations for expired plates, no plates, or fictitious plates into municipal court rather than county court, enabling more efficient enforcement. He noted that the ordinance would take effect immediately upon adoption at the request of the Police Department, as these violations are routinely enforced. During Council discussion, questions were raised regarding fines and enforcement procedures. City Attorney Dahl explained that violations would be classified as Class B traffic infractions and subject to the City’s standard fine schedule. Officers may issue citations for expired or missing registration whether a vehicle is moving or parked on a public street. Enforcement is based on registration status as of the citation date, regardless of how long the registration has been expired. It was further clarified that parked, non-operational vehicles are subject to enforcement under the ordinance. Discussion also addressed revenue implications, with clarification that the City would retain applicable fines and court costs, while assuming associated administrative costs for municipal court operations. Additional discussion addressed out-of-state registrations. It was noted that such vehicles may also be cited if registration is expired, though enforcement may present additional practical verification challenges. Page 6 of 8 Mayor Stites closed the public hearing. Motion: Councilmember Larson moved to approve Council Bill No. 08-2026, an ordinance amending Chapter 13 of the Wheat Ridge Code of Laws, concerning vehicles and traffic, by adding a new Section 13-7, concerning the violation of vehicle registration requirements, to allow for the citation of vehicle registration violations into municipal court, and that it takes effect upon adoption, as provided by Section 5.11 of the Charter.” Second: Councilmember Ohm Vote: 8 ayes; 0 nays. Motion carried. ORDINANCES ON FIRST READING 3. Council Bill No. 09-2026 – an ordinance approving the rezoning for property located at 3338 Depew Street from Residential-Three (R-3) to Residential-One C (R-1C) ISSUE: The owner of the property at 3338 Depew Street is requesting approval of a zone change from Residential-Three (R-3) to Residential-One C (R-1C). The zone change will result in zoning that encourages investment in the site and will enable the existing land use to become more conforming with the zoning. Councilmember Martell read the title and issue into the record. Motion: Councilmember Martell moved to approve Council Bill No. 09-2026, an ordinance approving the rezoning of property located at 3338 Depew Street from Residential-Three (R-3) to Residential-One C (R1-C) on first reading, order it published by title in the paper and in full on the City’s website as provided by the Home Rule Charter, public hearing set for Monday, May 11, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. as a virtual meeting and in City Council Chambers, and that it take effect 15 days after final publication.” Second: Councilmember Quinn Vote: 8 ayes; 0 nays. Motion carried. DECISIONS, RESOLUTIONS, AND MOTIONS No matters were presented. CITY MANAGER'S MATTERS City Manager Goff deferred comment to the Study Session Page 7 of 8 CITY ATTORNEY'S MATTERS No matters were presented ELECTED OFFICIALS' MATTERS Councilmember Martell invited everyone to a sustainability event and plant giveaway at Panorama Park on April 18, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., featuring water-wise plants discussion and a plant giveaway. Councilmember Snell recognized the clerk's office staff as "superstars" and thanked residents who spoke about safety and noise issues. She personally thanked Clancy's staff for their support during a recent family celebration of life, praising their wonderful service to the community. She also appreciated the Senior Deputy City Clerk’s commitment to "lead with kindness." Councilmember Okada had no matters to report Councilmember Larson noted upcoming events including Thomas Jefferson Day, National Record Store Day (with Black and Red 2 participating), Nuggets and Avalanche playoffs, Rockies' new optimistic ownership, Wheat Ridge Water District following Denver Water restrictions, and International Dark Sky Week. Councilmember Wood had no matters to report. Councilmember Quinn expressed sympathy for car wash neighbors and traffic safety concerns, encouraging people to "be good neighbors" by slowing down, keeping eyes open for children and pets, and taking time to be considerate. Councilmember Ohm thanked the City for its efforts on water conservation, noting the commitment to reducing usage even when landscaping impacts may occur. He attended Future Farmers of America at the high school, praising students' enthusiasm and community spirit. Regarding ongoing issues, he expressed concern about the 14- month car wash situation and need for expedited resolution, as well as school safety needs, sharing personal experiences walking children to school and encountering traffic dangers. Mayor Pro Tem thanked staff and Council for the productive Saturday retreat addressing future planning work requiring robust community engagement. She noted increased pedestrian and bicycle activity among families traveling to school over the past three years. She clarified that the upcoming animal code hearing in June would address three specific items: swine/domestic pigs, cats at large, and venomous animal definitions. She also reported presenting at Civic Spark with the City Manager, describing it as an uplifting civic engagement experience. She announced her Page 8 of 8 appointment as Vice Chair of the Jefferson County Transportation Action and Advisory Group and noted upcoming I-70/Kipling construction impacts and improvements related to I-70/Garrison and Ward Road. Mayor Stites thanked residents for bringing forward community concerns, and noted challenges associated with Jefferson County school consolidations resulting in larger elementary school populations on smaller neighborhood streets, requiring safety attention. He announced the passing of longtime resident Roger Loscher and extended condolences to the family. He commented on the productive weekend workshop and expressed optimism regarding upcoming City work despite challenges. He also highlighted development progress at Clear Creek Crossing, including openings at Prost and Bonfire, and noted positive community momentum in comparison to other municipalities. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before Council, Mayor Stites adjourned the April 13, 2026, Regular Council Meeting at 7:44 p.m. _________________________________________________ Rachel Hultin, Mayor Pro Tem __________________________________________________ Onorina Z. Maloney, Senior Deputy City Clerk