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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-09-14 City Council Meeting MinutesMINUTES CITY COUNCIL MEETING CITY OF WHEAT RIDGE, COLORADO Monday, September 14, 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) in Council Chambers, or virtually. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Stites called the City Council Regular Meeting to order on September 14, 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; Mike Okada; Patrick Quinn; Jenny Snell; and Susan Wood; Scott Ohm appeared virtually. A quorum was established. ABSENT None STAFF IN ATTENDANCE: City Manager Patrick Goff; City Attorney Gerald Dahl; Deputy City Manager Marianne Schilling; Community Development Director Lauren Mikulak; Director of Admin Services Chris Molison; Deputy Director of Parks & Recreation Brandon Altenburg; Assistant to the City Manager Wyatt Peterson; Deputy City Clerk Lucy Spalenka; APPROVAL OF MINUTES • Study Session Notes, August 17, 2026 • City Council Meeting Minutes, August 24, 2026 • Special Study Session Notes, August 24, 2026 Minutes and notes approved as presented APPROVAL OF AGENDA No changes to the agenda were proposed. PROCLAMATIONS AND CEREMONIES 1. Proclamation – National Hispanic Heritage Month Mayor Stites presented the proclamation recognizing September 15 to October 15, 2026, as National Hispanic Heritage Month, noting that 21 percent of Wheat Ridge residents identify as Hispanic or Latino. The proclamation was accepted by Brenda Bonilla, a Hispanic business owner in Wheat Ridge and co-owner of Taco Block, who accepted on behalf of the Hispanic families, workers, entrepreneurs, and future generations contributing to the Wheat Ridge community. PUBLICS’ RIGHT TO SPEAK a. In Person Georganne Zeiger (Wheat Ridge resident) spoke on behalf of ROAR for LTC (Respect, Oversight, Advocacy, and Reform for Long Term Care). She shared that her mother Gloria passed away approximately five years ago in a long-term care facility where neglect and abuse occurred. She called on elected leaders to address systemic issues in long-term care, noting the system often puts profits before people. She announced a national walk on September 27, 2026, at Paramount Park in Wheat Ridge to educate families, hear stories, and demand meaningful reform. She closed with a quote attributed to First Lady Rosalynn Carter on the universality of caregiving. b. Via Wheat Ridge Speaks - None CONSENT AGENDA None PUBLIC HEARINGS AND ORDINANCES ON SECOND READING 1. Title: Council Bill No. 17-2026 An ordinance approving the sale of future City-owned real property and, in connection therewith, authorizing execution of a Purchase and Sale and related agreements with Spectra Centers Issue: The purpose of this action is to request City Council approval of the sale of approximately 4.5 acres of the former Wilmore Davis Elementary School property, including the existing school building, to Spectra Centers. The proposed sale is part of a public-private partnership through which the City intends to acquire the entire school property from Jefferson County Public Schools, retain approximately 2.5 acres for permanent park and recreation use, and convey the building and remaining area to Spectra Centers for reuse as a special education facility school. Mayor Stites opened the public hearing Staff Presentation: Community Development Director Lauren Mikulak presented. The overall structure of the public-private partnership involves the City acquiring the entire 7-acre former Wilmore Davis Elementary School site from Jefferson County Public Schools, retaining approximately 2.5 acres on the north side for public park use, and conveying the school building and remaining land to Spectra Centers — a Colorado- based facility providing specialized education services for public school students. Spectra was selected as the preferred respondent from the City's Request For Information (RFI) process. The agreement is substantially similar to what Council reviewed during the Special Study Session on July 27, 2026. Jefferson County (JeffCo) Public Schools approved their agreement on September 10, 2026. A neighborhood meeting on September 1st drew approximately 40 attendees and generated largely positive feedback. No public comment Council Discussion: Councilmember Larson referred to a Denver Gazette opinion column questioning if the City's right-of-first-refusal process might have deterred interest from entities like charter schools. Director Mikulak explained that the RFI was sent to over 500 recipients, including a public charter school based in Nevada and several private residential developers. If no agreement had been reached, the school district could have marketed the property widely. Mayor Pro Tem Hultin inquired about the City’s safeguards in case Spectra decided to sell the property later. Director Mikulak assured that forthcoming agreements before closing would include the City’s right of first refusal, while residential zoning restrictions would add another layer of protection. Mayor Stites closed the public hearing Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Hultin: Moved to approve Council Bill No. 17-2026, an ordinance approving the sale of future City-owned real property and in connection therewith authorizing execution of a Purchase and Sale and other related agreements with Spectra Centers for an estimated 4.5-acre portion of the former Wilmore Davis Elementary School property on second reading and that it take effect immediately. Seconded by Councilmember Okada Vote: 8-0, Motion Carried ORDINANCES ON FIRST READING None DECISIONS, RESOLUTIONS, AND MOTIONS 2. Title: Motion to accept the 2025 Financial Statements from Haynie and Company Issue: Section 10.15 of the Municipal Charter for the City of Wheat Ridge requires that an independent audit be conducted annually of all City accounts. In 2025, the City received more than $1,000,000 in federal funds for Wadsworth Boulevard which also triggered a “single audit” of all federal funds. The CPA firm Haynie & Company (Haynie) performed both the City and federal audits of the City’s financial statements for the year ending December 31, 2025. Once again, the City received an unmodified opinion indicating that the City’s financial statements are fairly and appropriately presented. A representative from Haynie will be at the September 14, 2026, City Council meeting to present the 2025 Financial Statements to Council for acceptance. Title and Issue read into the record by Councilmember Larson Staff Presentation: Administrative Services Director Chris Molison introduced Christine McLeod, Audit Partner at Haynie and Company, who presented the results. Ms. McLeod reported the following key findings: • Financial Statement Audit: No findings. An unmodified opinion was issued, indicating financial statements are fairly and appropriately presented. A prior- year finding related to an accrual in the Urban Renewal Authority did not recur. • Single Audit (Highway Planning and Construction Program): No findings. An unmodified opinion was issued on compliance with major federal award requirements. • GASB 102: Implemented in the current year regarding certain risk disclosures; no material impact identified. • No corrected or uncorrected misstatements were identified. • Upcoming GASB Pronouncements: GASB 105 (Financial Reporting Model Improvements) will be implemented next year and will require enhancements to the Management’s Discussion & Analysis (MD&A), notes on budget changes, and explanations of significant variances. Additional pronouncements on disclosure of certain capital assets and subsequent events are forthcoming in subsequent years. Ms. McLeod acknowledged the complexity added by the City's mid-year Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software transition from ADG to OpenGov and praised the Finance team's cooperation throughout the process. City Manager Patrick Goff specifically recognized Finance Manager Mark Colvin for his primary role in managing the audit process during the ERP system transition. No public Comment. Motion by Councilmember Larson: Moved to accept the 2025 Financial Statements from Haynie and Company. Seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Hultin Vote: 8-0, Motion Carried 3. Title: Motion to approve the purchase of the former Wilmore Davis Elementary School from Jefferson County Public Schools and to authorize the execution of a Purchase and Sale Agreement and related documents required for such acquisition Issue: The purpose of this action is to request City Council approval of the purchase of the former Wilmore Davis Elementary School. The proposed acquisition is part of a public-private partnership through which the City intends to acquire the entire 7-acre site from Jefferson County Public Schools, retain approximately 2.5 acres for permanent park and recreation use, and convey the building and remaining 4.5 acres to Spectra Centers for reuse as a special education facility school. Staff Presentation: Director Mikulak noted this is the companion item to Council Bill No. 17-2026. This agreement governs the City's acquisition of the entire site from Jefferson County Public Schools, with the two transactions intended to close back to back. Because this item involves a purchase rather than a sale of public property, it requires only a motion rather than an ordinance. Council Discussion: Councilmember Quinn inquired about Spectra's timeline for starting student services. Director Mikulak stated that Spectra aims to commence operations swiftly post-closing, potentially by the semester after the holiday break, with the building being ready for immediate occupancy. Mayor Pro Tem Hultin and Councilmember Ohm both expressed strong support for the initiative. Councilmember Ohm extended gratitude to Jeffco Public Schools, Director Mikulak, Parks and Recreation Director Karen O'Donnell, and City Manager Goff for their sustained efforts in securing both the school building and the desired parkland for the neighborhood. No Public Comment Motion by Councilmember Ohm: Moved to approve the purchase of the former Wilmore Davis Elementary School property from Jefferson County Public Schools and to authorize the execution of a Purchase and Sale Agreement and related documents required for such acquisition. Seconded by Councilmember Quinn Vote: 8-0, Motion Carried 4. Title: Resolution No. 42-2026 A resolution of support for an application to the Outdoor Recreation and Legacy Partnership program for the Outdoor Pool Replacement project Issue: Staff is seeking City Council’s support to submit a grant application to the Outdoor Recreation and Legacy partnership (ORLP) program for the Outdoor Pool Replacement project cost. A Resolution of Support from City Council is required as part of the application. The ORLP is a federal program under the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and administered in Colorado by Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW). ORLP allows for applications of up to 50% of the project cost for public agencies to acquire new parkland and develop outdoor recreation facilities in urban communities. Title and Issue read into the record by Councilmember Quinn Staff Presentation: Deputy Parks and Recreation Director Brandon Altenburg presented. Design contracts for the outdoor pool replacement were approved by Council on August 24th with the Farnsworth Group and owners' rep firm Wemburg Inc. Key details of the grant opportunity include: • Eligible for up to 50 percent of project cost, up to $15,000,000. • The City's current estimate is approximately $8,900,000 in grant request, using the high end of the estimate range to maximize potential matching dollars. • The original outdoor pool was built using LWCF funding, making it automatically eligible for maintenance and replacement funding. • The population threshold for eligibility was recently reduced from 50,000 to 25,000, making Wheat Ridge eligible for the first time since the program began in 2014. • Seven pre-applications were submitted to CPW. CPW will advance preferred applications to the National Park Service by November 1, with award announcements expected May 1, 2027. • If funded, federal contracting could take up to 12 months, potentially pushing construction start to 2028. No Public Comment Council Discussion: Councilmember Larson inquired about the grant's likelihood of approval, to which Mr. Altenburg responded with an estimate of a 10–25 percent chance, citing past awards to Denver and Arvada. City Manager Goff added that the pool project is also listed as eligible for funds from the sales tax ballot question this November, and staff is exploring additional grant opportunities. Mayor Pro Tem Hultin questioned the grant timeline's effect on construction scheduling. Mr. Altenburg presented two scenarios without grant funding: a post-Carnation Festival demolition in August 2027, aiming for a July 2028 reopening and thus saving one pool season, or a post-Labor Day 2027 demolition resulting in a 2029 reopening. Should the grant be awarded, these timelines would extend by about a year. He emphasized the pool’s vulnerability to failure in any year, which underscores the urgency. Motion by Councilmember Quinn: Moved to approve Resolution No. 42-2026, a resolution of support for an application to the Outdoor Recreation and Legacy Partnership program for the Outdoor Pool Replacement project Seconded by Councilmember Martell Vote: 8-0, Motion Carried 5. Title: Resolution No. 43-2026 A resolution expressing the support of the City Council of the City of Wheat Ridge for the November 3, 2026, ballot question concerning a one percent sales and use tax for community capital investments Issue: A Resolution expressing the Wheat Ridge City Council’s support for the November 3, 2026, ballot question proposing a one percent (1.0%) sales and use tax dedicated to community capital investments. Title and Issue read into the record by Councilmember Okada City Manager Goff noted that under the Fair Campaign Practices Act, City Council is permitted to pass a resolution in support of a ballot question. Council Discussion: Mayor Pro Tem Hultin noted that the resolution highlights that the ballot measure and its proposed uses have been informed by six years of extensive community engagement, characterizing it as "a valid initiative, by our community for our community." No public comment Motion by Councilmember Okada: Moved to approve Resolution No. 43-2026, a resolution expressing the support of the City Council of the City of Wheat Ridge for November 3, 2026, ballot question concerning a one percent sales and use tax for community capital investments. Seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Hultin Vote: 8-0, Motion Carried 6. Title: Resolution No. 44-2026 A resolution amending the 2026 Fiscal Year General Fund budget to reflect the approval of a supplemental budget appropriation in the amount of $128,003 for the purpose of accepting and utilizing grant funds from the Denver Regional Council of Governments Issue: The City was awarded a $128,003 reimbursement grant from the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) for a new trip van for the Active Adult Center. The grant is provided through Federal Transit Administration funds under Section 5310 “Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities.” The funding will support approximately 80% of the replacement cost of one of the trip vans for the AAC. To purchase the bus and receive the grant reimbursement, the 2026 Fleet budget must be increased by $128,003 by passing this supplemental budget appropriation. Title and Issue read into the record by Councilmember Wood Staff Presentation: Deputy Director of Parks and Recreation Director Altenburg added that neither of the Active Adult Center's current 2017 trip vans has a wheelchair lift, requiring the City to rent accessible vans when needed. The new van will be delivered in approximately six months, after which the City will submit for reimbursement. The more heavily used of the two existing vans will likely be auctioned, keeping the fleet at two vans. No Public Comment Council Discussion: Councilmember Martell inquired about the assurance of obtaining reimbursement, to which Mr. Altenburg responded that there is a 95–98 percent likelihood of receiving it, although he acknowledged that it is a federal grant and thus not entirely guaranteed. Councilmember Larson queried about the trip service's eligibility criteria, and Mr. Altenburg explained that the program is designed for scheduled social and recreational outings—such as hikes, restaurants, and festivals—for adults aged 50 and older, usually accommodating 10–14 participants. City Manager Goff mentioned that Regional Transportation District (RTD) provides a separate on-demand transportation service. Motion by Councilmember Wood: Moved to approve Resolution No. 44-2026, a resolution amending the 2026 Fiscal Year General Fund budget to reflect the approval of a supplemental budget appropriation in the amount of $128,003 for the purpose of accepting and utilizing grant funds from the Denver Regional Council of Governments. Seconded by Councilmember Snell Vote: 8-0, Motion Carried ADJOURN TO SPECIAL STUDY SESSION Regular meeting adjourned to Special Study Session at 7:33 PM _________________________________________________ Rachel Hultin, Mayor Pro Tem __________________________________________________ Lucy Spalenka, Deputy City Clerk