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Home My WebLink About2026-05-11 Special Study Session NotesPage 1 of 4 NOTES CITY OF WHEAT RIDGE, COLORADO SPECIAL STUDY SESSION Monday, May 11, 2026 The Special Study Session was held in a hybrid format, with Councilmembers, City staff, and members of the public participating either in person at the Municipal Building (7500 West 29th Avenue, Wheat Ridge, Colorado) in Council Chambers, or virtually. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Korey Stites called the City Council Special Study Session of May 11, 2026, to order at 8:30 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; Chief of Police Chris Murtha; Community Services Supervisor Marie Trujillo; Community Services Supervisor Phil Schroeder; Senior Deputy City Clerk Onorina Maloney; and other staff as needed. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON AGENDA ITEMS Candice Tomlinson, a Wheat Ridge resident, commented on the proposed cats-at-large amendment. Her comments are reﬂected in the Regular Meeting minutes. No public comments were received via Zoom or through Wheat Ridge Speaks. 1. Animal Code Update Deputy City Manager Schilling presented an overview of three remaining topics from the ongoing Chapter 4 (Animals) code update project, which has been under review since Page 2 of 4 the prior year and went through first and second readings in March and April, respectively. The public hearing was continued to address these three specific items. Venomous Animals Staff identified that the previously proposed Section 4-14(d) had become overly complex and risked unintended consequences for lawful businesses—specifically The Reptile Room, a local business. Staff noted that several of the proposed prohibitions were already covered under state law (e.g., venomous snakes), creating unnecessary duplication. Additionally, staff agreed with feedback that the term "insects" should be updated to "invertebrates" to better reflect the scope intended. The recommendation was to simplify the proposed language and defer more heavily to existing state regulations rather than restating them at the local level. Council unanimously supported staff's recommendation. Pot Bellied Pigs and Swine Under the existing code, pot-bellied pigs are not permitted without an annual exemption from the Chief of Police. Requirements for exemption include a maximum weight of 150 pounds, a maximum height of 2 feet, and veterinary certification. Council previously reached consensus to ban swine broadly while retaining the pot-bellied pig exemption process; this was approved by Planning Commission in February 2026. The current discussion addressed two sub-issues: (1) whether the Latin species designation ("Sus scrofa vittatus," referencing wild boar) should be corrected or removed, and (2) whether to allow other small pigs not strictly classified as pot-bellied pigs. City Attorney Dahl noted that the weight and height limits function primarily as an educational tool for applicants at the time of exemption application, rather than as an ongoing enforcement mechanism. Chief Murtha and Community Services Officer Supervisor Trujillo reinforced the practical difficulties of monitoring an animal's weight and size over its lifetime and the complexity of distinguishing species in the field. Staff recommended simply removing the Latin language and relying on veterinary certification, as this is more practical for enforcement and makes the code cleaner. Council asked whether a broader term like "domestic pigs kept as companion animals" might be used instead of "pot-bellied pigs," and whether the size and weight limits remained useful without the Latin classification. After discussion, staff and the City Attorney advised that clear, defined terms are preferable for enforcement purposes, and that the veterinary certification process adequately handles species verification. Council expressed satisfaction with the direction and supported removing the Latin language while retaining the other requirements unchanged. Page 3 of 4 Council noted the 150-pound threshold is not arbitrary—it roughly corresponds to the size of a very large dog and the practical threshold beyond which an animal becomes difficult to keep inside a home or transport conventionally. Council also noted the animal welfare challenges of rehoming pigs that outgrow their living situation, as options for surrender are limited compared to dogs and cats. Council reached consensus to remove the Latin language and otherwise keep the existing recommendation. Cats At Large Under existing code, Section 4-8 (Animals at Large) applies only to dogs. The prior council reached consensus to update the language to say "animals" while creating an explicit exemption for domestic house cats. Staff's current recommendation was to retain that exemption, based on input from Community Service Officers who expressed significant practical concerns about enforcement and noted that cats at large do not represent a widespread complaint in the city. Community Services Supervisor Trujillo reported she has received only one cat-related at-large complaint in 13 years of service. Chief Murtha explained the operational distinction: while cats are generally considered less dangerous to humans than dogs, attempting to physically contain a cat presents logistical challenges distinct from dogs. He also noted that if enforcement of cats at large became widespread, it could require additional staffing consideration. City Attorney Dahl clarified that the inability to physically capture an animal does not preclude issuing a citation—tickets for animals at large can be written based on identification of the owner, regardless of whether the animal is apprehended. The discussion among Council members reflected a split in perspectives. Mayor Pro Tem Hultin, Councilmember Wood, Councilmember Okada, Councilmember Snell, and Councilmember Martell expressed support for removing the exemption and including cats in the animals-at-large enforcement framework. Their shared reasoning included: the well-documented impact of outdoor domestic cats on bird populations (estimated 1–4 billion birds killed annually in North America), the safety risks to cats themselves (outdoor cats have roughly half the lifespan of indoor cats), nuisance impacts on neighboring properties, and a desire for consistent and equitable application of the code. Councilmember Wood and Councilmember Okada each emphasized that this position is pro-animal rather than anti-cat, noting that cats can live full, happy lives indoors and that the harm caused is often invisible to owners. Councilmember Quinn and Councilmember Ohm expressed skepticism about the practical enforceability of the provision and the real-world role that outdoor cats play in managing rodent populations, particularly near areas with chickens, bird feeders, and grain. Councilmember Quinn cited personal experience with his own cats and neighbors' community cats, concluding he could not support removing the exemption. Page 4 of 4 A majority of Council members expressed support for removing the exemption for domestic house cats and including cats within the animals-at-large provisions. Staff conﬁrmed the ordinance would return for public hearing and ﬁnal Council consideration on June 8, 2026. CITY MANAGER’S MATTERS None CITY ATTORNEY’S MATTERS None ELECTED OFFICIALS’ MATTERS None ADJOURNMENT Mayor Stites adjourned the May 11, 2026, Special Study Session at 9:24 p.m. _____________________________ Rachel Hultin, Mayor Pro Tem _____________________________________ Onorina Z. Maloney, Senior Deputy City Clerk