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
...
/ /'
.;' ~ /'