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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/07/1975 MINUTES July 7, 1975 The Study Session for the month of July was called to order by Mayor pro tem Joseph Donaldson at 7 00 p.m. at 4355 Field Street. Other Councilmen attending were Mary Jo Cavarra, Robert Howard, Calvin Hulsey and Larry Merkl. Councilman Louise Turner arrived shortly after the meeting convened. Also attending were City Administrator John Jerman, Assistant City Attorney Steve Lund, City Clerk Elise Brougham, staff and interested citizens. Mayor Homer Roesener was absent. Mr. Darrell Peters and Max Osborn from the Jefferson County R-1 School District explained the vocational training school called Warren Tech. They stated the students attend classes part of the day and then after they have acquired adequate skills they are placed on jobs part of the day for vocational training. The program is geared for students not planning to attend college. They stated they require the minimum pay of $2/hour and that if they are not doing a satisfactory job they are pulled off They urged the City to take advantage of the program by employing the students. A letter from the Chamber of Commerce was diScussed recommending various changes to Ordinance No. 98 pertaining to the non-conforming clause. Mike Boorman and Hank Stites of the Chamber were present. The letter is attached to the Minutes and listed problems such as 60 days discontinuance of use then it must be conforming restriction, 10% landscaping requirement, curb cuts, 3 to 1 parking ratio, sign code, setback requirements, special use permits etc. Mr. Boorman stated the strict sign code is not fair to businessmen on the periphery of Wheat Ridge who have to compete with more lenient signs and there is a growing list of special use permits and he recommended the right of appeal to the applicant. Mr. Zwaqerman stated the curb cut standards are mlnlmum for ingress and egress and should be flexible for heavy and light traffic streets. In answer to a question , he stated that the 60 day discontinuous clause pertains if different non-conforming uses are desired, but it does not apply if the same non-conforming use comes in. Alderman Turner stated she felt there should be no percentage requirement if a business is remodeling the building and not extending the use of the non-conforming business. Alderman Cavarra stated there is a difference between changing a structure and remodeling. Alderman Hulsev agreed and stated that if the square footage remains the same, then anything could be done. Mr. Zwaqerman stated that for small lots which can't meet the landscaping and curb cuts, that they should be allowed to present a plan and have a designated body approve it. Councilman Turner stated there is a use and a non-conforming structure. there should be flexibility to help difference between non-conforming Several Councilmen agreed that the businessman rather than hinder. Hank Stites stared businesses are not necessarily stable and some will go out of business, but the existing buildings won't go away and can be upgraded and also 75% of Wheat Ridge is developed. Alderman Hulsev commented that he had heard that it takes a long time for buildi Ig permits also. Alderman Cavarra stated it is now legal for the mayor to delegate authority and does not have to sign them. Mr. Jerman stated he was not sure the mayor wished to relinquish that duty. MINUTES - 7/7/75 - Continued -2- Councilman Merkl recommended deferring the Council Rules of Procedure due to the length of the Agenda. It was mentioned whether or not deferring the reading of ordinances in full should be dropped. Ordinance adopting the Merit System Rules was discussed. Mr. Andrews, Dir7ctor of Adm~n~!t~ative Services stated it will abolish all ordlnances deallng personnel rules except Ordinance No 40 and +he~ would be consolidated under the Rules. Councilman Cavarra recommended abolishing Lhe requirement for an annual survey for the pay and recommended that it be done as necessary. She also recommended having less steps and mo~ grades within the steps to encourage longevity. Councilman Turner stated the pay should be based relative to what the City can afford and that it is difficult to compare jobs with other cities. Councilman Hulsev stated the employees should be reviewed every year due to inflation, but that employees should not be guaranteed they are going to get a raise. Councilman Turner objected to the staff personnel in the Mayor's Office or City Administrator's office be exempt from the Merit Rules and stated she felt they nseded protection also. Mr. Jerman stated that this is necessary to prevent the merit system of selection for positions for that one job. Councilman Turner recommended that that person in that position, if laid off, be placed on top eligibility list. She aso mentioned whether or not attendance of members of committees should be required and included in the ordinance. Mr. Andrews stated the Personnel Rules need to have a definition of "fringe benefits" before they are finally adopted, and stated the City has appreciated the suggestions of the Personnel Commission, Employee Council and individual employees. Steve Lund explained the proposed Animal Shelter joint project with Arvada, Wheat Ridge, County and Lakewood. He stated representatives of the 4 entities had met and came up with 2 proposals a commission form of management or corporate entity. He sta!a:J the commission form gives the greatest form of fleXibility. Alderman Howard questioned why other cities were not included and Councilman Merkl stated they should be charged their proportknate share. Councilman business. 1/3 of the Turner stated a Mr. Lund stated operation. dog pound is definitely not a profit making they hoped the charges etc. would pay for Councilman Cavarra asked if a spay clinic could be incorporated into the plans. Councilman Turner was in favor of a spay clinic operation also and stated she was opposed to putting money into something that is treating only the symptom and not the cause. She stated that Boulder has had a dramitic effect on the numbers of dogs put to sleeep since the spay clinic has been in operation. She stated Wheat Ridge could solve its own dog problem with the money proposed for the pound by subsidizing veterinarians for spaying and neutering. Mr. Jerman stated two leases for the City Hall and the Vantage Building will be coming up for renewal and questioned Council whether or not they wanted to pursue another route such as buying a city hall. Councilman Cavarra recommended the post office building but Mr. Jerman stated the net usable space is arounc 5,000 sq. ft. and there is a bad parking problem. He stated that he had distributed to Council a report on buildin~ available, and there is one building available in the realm of reach to be paid off in one year. MINUTES - 7/7/75 - Continued -3- Councilmen Turner and Merkl fell the City had more pressing problems, and Mrs. Turner stated she was in favor of renewing the city hall lease but not the Vantage Building. Mr Jerman is to bring back the lease prices for next year. Police Chief Ed Pinson had distributed his reorganization plan to Council. It called for a juvenile officer. Council agreed that Ordinance No. 40 should be amended to allow for outside competition for all positions which may provide for more experienced people. Mr. Pinson also stated he is preparing a LEAA grant for 2 additional positions at about $25,000 per year. Mr. Jerman stated that the revised program for streets for 1975 (which had been prepared by Mr. Taylor after it appeared that there would not be sufficient money for all the projects) was out of balance for the amount of work in each ward and so a new revision had been made that is more equitable. The list is attached to the Minutes. Councilman Cavarra stated it had been her understanding that Wards were not a factor and that was why the Public Works Committee had been formed, and CounciTi?urner observed the philosophy changes Councilman Merkl stated he looks at the whole city and that the streets in his ward need work badly, and Councilman Hulsev stated he liked the plan and wants it on the Agenda next week. Mr. Jerman stated several companies had been contacted and had given prices for a computer time sharing operation. This would provide budgetary reporting and the input would be put in daily with a printout weekly. Councilman Turner asked if this would involve hiring additional personnel and Mr. Jerman stated "no." Mr. Jerman announced that the pre-budget Public Hearing was scheduled for July 22, 1975 at 7 30 p.m. in the Anderson Building for all citizen input. Meeting was adjourned at 11 05 p.m. APPROVED MINUTES - 7/7/75 - Continued - p~ 4. REVISED 1975 STREET IMPROVEME~T PROGRAM CITY OF WHEAT RIDGE Ju1 J 7, 1975 Ward I " 1. Pierce From 26th Ave. to 32nd Ave. 0.52 2. High Court " 35th Ave. to 38th Ave. o 23 3. 32nd Avenue " Depew to Sheridan 0.25 4. Reed " 29th to 30th Ave. O. '14 5. Ames " 29th to 200 ft. So. W. 28th 0.13 6. Chase " W. 32nd to W. 33rd 0.13 Total 1.40 miles Ward II *1. Harlan St. From W. 38th Ave. to W. 44th Ave. .48 2. Otis " W. 48th Ave. to W. 47th Ave. .12 3. Cody " W. 48th Ave. to lJJ. 46th Ave. .17 4. Otis " W. 38th Ave. to W. 41st Ave. .25 5. Holland " W. 44th Ave. to W. 45th Ave. 300~ .09 6. 41st & Kendall South of W. 41st Ave. on Kendall 7. 48th & Dudley . . South of W. 48th Ave. on Dudley 200' 8. 48th & Dover South of W. 48th Ave. on Dover 200' .18 9. 48th & Upham .. South of W. 48th Ave. on Upham 200' Total 1.29 miles *Alternate project--W. 41st Ave. from Harlan to Pierce (.50 miles) Ward III 1. Independence Ct. From W. 38th Ave. to W. 41st Ave. .25 2. Everett St. " W. 44th Ave. to Dudley .22 3. Dudley " W. 41st Ave. to Everett .26 4. Vivian " Crosspan to 32nd .25 5. 39th Ave. " Zephyr to Wadsworth .15 6. .Garrison " W. 32nd to W. 35th .27 Total 1.41 miles RECAP lJlard I 1. 40 Ward II 1.29 Ward III 1.111 Total 4. 10