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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/03/1973 MINUTES May 3, 1973 A Study Session of the Wheat Ridge City Council was called to order at 7 40 P m. by Mayor Albert E. Anderson in the Wheat Ridge Council Chambers located at 7390 West 38 Avenue. Aldermen Attending were Donaldson, Calvin Hulsey absent Dr Paul Abramson, Mary Jo Cavarra, Joseph and Ray Pepe. Alderman Robert Howard was Also attending were Mayor Anderson, City Attorney Maurice Fox, City Treasurer James Malone, Deputy City Clerk Elise McMillen, staff personnel and interested citizens. Items which were not on the Agenda which were brought up are as follows -------T-eT;iind---ste-wart, Chairman of the Planning Commission read a prepared statement addressed to Alderman Cavarra requesting her to attend the Planning Commission meeting on May 7, 1973 to explain more fully and to give specific details in regards to a letter which she had sent the Planning Commission indicating she had gotten complaints from citizens claiming the had not been treated with courtesy. Be..fl__fhastai_rl_ and G..ary LelJJ~an of the Mass Transit Committee presented the idea for one free roundtrip ticket for Bus 39X going downtown to promote more riders on the bus Mr Lewman stated that the City is paying for the bus to run anyway, and that this may start more regular riders to make the bus self-supportive Ric~ard E Gash, owner of Richard E. Gash Electric Company stated that his building permit had not been signed by the Mayor and that the following events had occurred up to this point 1 That he is in the process of building an office building for his electrical contracting business 2. That the property is zoned Commercial-One and that he had verified with Mr. Paul Walker and Mr. Robert Barr of the Planning Departmen+ and that they had assured him that is was legal to build an electrical equipment, sales and service business. 3 He then bought the land and hired a contractor to clear away the existing buildings. 4 He had the plans drawn up and that he intends to lease out a portion of the building to other similar businesses, but that 80% of the building will be office space and 20% will be used for storage for his business and the leasee 5 He attended the preconstruct ion conference and was told all plans were in compliance by City Engineer Sam Gadalla, Robert Barr and Chief Building Inspector Jack Prose. The plans said warehouse on them instead of office space and storeroom 5. When the building permit was sent to the Mayor's office for his signature, the Mayor refused to sign it because when he checked with the Ordinance, a warehouse was allowed under Commercial-Two Zoning. 7. He stated he stood to lose a considerable amount of money and he felt that 'somebody in the City should have caught it" before now. ~Attorn~ox ruled that it was up to City Council to determine an interpretaion of the Ordinance. Motion by Alderman Pepe the building permit (for Alderman Hulsey "I move that Council direct the Mayor to sign Richard E. Gash)." Motion was seconded by Motion to Amend previous Motion was made by Alderman Abramson "I move that the plans be amended to read storeroom wherever the word warehouse appears." MINUTES - May 3, 1973 - Continued -2- Motion to Amend Motion by Alderman Hulsey sign the changed plans posthaste." "I move that the Mayor Second approved all Amendments, and ammended Motion passed 5-0. Alderman Howard was absent. It was discussed that the Zoning Ordinance No. 98 should perhaps be amended at a later date for clarification. Wal_ter Joh..flson, Staff Assistant stated that if it was agreeable with Council he would like a student from Boulder who is getting his Masters Degree in Public Administration to be hired by the City for the summer for on the job experience He would be assisting main IV in the Treasurer's Office and Administrative Services. The funding would come out of the management contingency account. Treasurer James Malone stated he fel+- there were adequate funds but that this was adding an employee and he felt it needed to be authorized by someone other than himself. The proposal was agreeable to the Mayor and Council. ~alter Grande Civi~_2~ienye-Rirector was scheduled on the Agenda for a report on Civil Defense. He said he had been on jury duty for the last two weeks and consequently had work in his office to catch up on so his civil defense activity had been limited, but that during the past weeks of rain and snow an inspection of Maple Grove Dam had been made daily and twice on Sundav, and on structures along Lena Gulch He stated that a budget needed to be started for civil defense, that all requirements had been met for federal participation with funding of 50-75%, and that the concept of civil defense had gotten away from nuclear attack and was aimed more towards natural disasters and manmade disasters such as "a airplane crash" Mayor Anderson commented that there was need of a good stockpile of emergency eqwipment. Mr. Grande stated that he would give another report in June. BOJLd Kraemer, Park Superintendent stated that the sprinkler system in City Park (formerly Field Park) is 95% completed and that it should serve the City 15 years without maintenance He stated the third phase of lighting for the park is ready for completion and stated the following 1. That bids had been received for moving the light poles to the east part of the park and that bids for the wiring will be taken in the fall when the contractors are not so busy which will be cheaper. 2 The reasons for moving the lights and relocating the ball field are that presently there is traffic congestion, poor soil, There are no parking facilities, the present ballfield is not regulation size, and there are no spectator seating and dugouts 3. He stated the new field needs one year growing season to have the turf established and will be ready for use next year. It will allow State A tournaments for baseball and also the field will be used for football and soccer. 4 He stated there will be no night games for this season, but that in the existing field there is a safety hazard because the wiring is 4 inches below ground and it should be 5 feet below. 5. He said the low bid was from Sturgeon Electric at a price of $4,552 DO and the high bid was from Kennedy Electric at $5,013.00 6 The item is to be on the Agenda May 17, 1973. Boyd Kraemer reported the Sod House activities of the SOS Lakeside Bake Day, the hike and bike-a-thon, and letters and speeches to schools brought in $2,300 DO The Park Commission agreed unanimously that the City should proceed with the purchase of the sod house. He stated that the $18,000 00 check due the City for federal matching funds for the Boyd White property, if turned over for the Sod House purchase, would create no additional cost to the City He stated the deadline for purchase is May 28, 1973. MINUTES - May 3, 1973 - Continued -3- Boyd Kraemer also stated the City advertized for. fencing in the Greenbelt but only one bid was received from Allled Fence Company for only the split rail cedar fence materials at a cost of $2,323.30 Allied Fence declined to bid for cement or treated round posts which could be obtained from some other business at an additional cost Item is to be on the May 17, 1973 Agenda Steve Pischke, Recreation Superintendent explained his Internship Program for hiring students who are majoring in recreation for help in his department He stated the following 1 This program gives men and women with career objectives in recreation practical work experience. 2. That the college participating is Ft. Lewis College in Durango and a total of five students are participating. 3 The City is obligated to write two reports each on their job performance etc., otherwise they are treated as regular employees 4 This is federally funded for 80%. S. Students will work a specific number of hours assigned, and will usually be required to do independent studies on their own time by their school from which knowledge the City will benefit free. 6. The City is not obligated to take the students if it is felt the student is not qualified. 7 He, himself, had personally participated in an internship program and felt "there was no substitute for on the job experience." Denver Regional Council of Governments Representative David Klotz gave a presentation on the functions and purpose of DRCOG He stated 1 That COG is needed due to rapid urbanization, that in 1940 the metropolitan area had a population of 445,000 and by the year 2000 there will be 2,000,000 people 2 That the whole area is economically and socially one community 3. That several federal funding agencies such as Hud etc. require regional organization, some state statutes require regional organization. 4 The first COG was formed in Detroit in 1954 and there are now 200 in the U S The Denver COG was established in 1955. S. The purpose of COG is to provide regional perspective of five counties and to provide service to local governments. 5 It is a voluntary organization of 34 members with $420,000.00 per yean basic funding. 7. COg can argue for local governments with state and regional agencies 8 It has a forum aspect in meetings and the cities are on neutral ground which promotes intergovernment cooperation. 9. The Council is not a government in itself, but it is a voluntary organization of governments, COG can't tax, bond or legislate 10 The funding is from members dues, other agencies and the largest majorityis from federal grants The annual budget is $1,700,000.00 11. Over $12 billion in capital expenditures are being planned such as flood control, regional transportation, traffic counts, highway and transit plans. 12 If a city is not a member, it is not a monetary loss, but a loss in terms of principle. In answer to a question, Mr Klotz stated COG is supporting the RSA Bill but the bill was voted upon by the people and the legislature is organizing it He added there are 35 existing special districts so there already is another layer of governments which are not necessarily elected by the people. M~~~ Anderson stated that he felt COG was making strong moves towards RSA. A~d~~man Abr~~~~n qlJestioned what COG will do when a member expresses op- position like Wheat Ridge has done on the highway plan Mr Klotz said it is up to Council to decide, but that it is their policy to listen and to take into consideration all viewpoints. AI~~rman_k~Js~ stated that he does not always agree with COG, but that he felt it was a mistake getting out of Cog because Wheat Ridge needs the representQtion MINUTES - May 3, 1973 - Continued -4- Police Budget Adjustment was brought up by Police Chief Ed Pinson. He stated the Greenbelt needs to be patrolled which would require motorcycles, horses or on foot He felt foot patrol was impractical as it took two hours to walk from Wadsworth Blvd. to Youngfield He stated at least 3 horses would be needed and a corral, barn etc would be needed The personnel anticipated is 3 full-time officers, 1-5 part time men on 4 hours per day,S days per week, and that there should be 24 hour coverage, 7 days a week Alderman Hulsev stated he felt the Police Department shouldnlt be allowed to use motorcycles, since Council had recently passed an Ordinance banning motorcycles on vacant land He felt horses were the only answer. Alderman Pepe stated he felt that instead of using additional men that the regular police force now in existence be used to patrol. Alderman Abramson stated he felt there are funds available, and that he was against the use of motorcycles and that men are needed. Meeting was adjourned at 10 35 P m. ~/; ~ 1(, 'f/{ *"~ / <2J!/ C IfL I ,~) Helen Elise illen t ~ / Deputy City Clerk ... / /' .;' ~ /'