Councilmembers Weaver and Hultin requested a study session to review the City’s animal welfare code requirements. Several sections of the City’s animal code are outdated or do not reflect current needs or practices. As such, Staff propose several amendments to the Wheat Ridge Animal Code for the Council’s consideration.

City Council directed staff to conduct further research on several items following the November 18, 2024, study session on the Residential Waste Engagement project. This item provides an update on progress made to date and outlines areas where Staff is seeking Council input, including budget considerations for the potential expansion of some waste services.

Upon approval of the 2J tax extension, also referred to as the Next Chapter, staff developed a list of potential projects within each of the three major themes of corridors, sidewalks & bikeways, and drainage. This list exceeds $121 million. Staff has subsequently refined the list to be in line with the $75M bond capacity. The results of this effort are included in the memo and supporting materials.

This ordinance updates the parking requirements for multi-unit residential uses to comply with recent state legislation and Council policy direction. Conforming amendments are included to update definitions and terms related to residential uses.

Ten (10) bids were received in response to the city’s Invitation for Bids to construct the Miller Street Storm Sewer Improvements Project. The lowest responsive bidder was Essential Contractors Inc. It is recommended that the city enter a contract with Essential Contractors Inc. to perform the storm sewer main replacement along Miller Street from 32nd Avenue to 35th Avenue.

On October 24, 2024, the city closed on Series 2024 Sales and Use Tax Revenue Bonds in the par amount of $34,845,000 with a net premium of $3,856,048 for a total of $38,701,048. After cost of issuance and the refunding of the 2017A Bond Series, the City received a total of $33,345,000 in project funds. The City’s first interest payment for 2025 is due June 1, 2025, in the amount of $1,055,029.16, and the first principal and second interest payment are due December 1, 2025, in the amount of $3,986,125. Funds to cover the 2025 payments are budgeted in the 2025 2J Bond Fund budget.

Five (5) bids were received in response to the city’s Invitation for Bids to complete the 2025 Residential Streets Program project. The lowest responsive is bidder Brannan Sand & Gravel. It is recommended that the city enter into a contract with Brannan Sand & Gravel to perform the work for the 2025 Residential Streets Program.

The City of Wheat Ridge Police Department is a member of the Records Management System Consortium (RMSC) along with Arvada, Edgewater, Golden, Lakewood and the Town of Mountain View. This regional consortium allows for effective and efficient criminal justice records management beyond what the Wheat Ridge Police Department could provide on its own. The Wheat Ridge Police Department was a signatory member of the original Intergovernmental Agreement at the start of the RMSC, signed January 1, 2015. The Intergovernmental Agreement before the Council today has been amended to better serve the involved agencies, incorporate lessons learned over the past 10 years, and to continue the promise of better records management at a reduced cost to all members. The Second Amended and Restated Intergovernmental Agreement focuses on addressing RMSC employees and their work structure as well as providing more structure to the RMSC Board of Directors and the processes and oversight provided by members.

The Wheat Ridge Police Department requests approval to enter into an agreement with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and the Lakewood Police Department Combined Regional Academy. The cost for the academy class will be outlined in Exhibit A and based on the number of recruits attending, as agreed upon by the recruit’s sponsoring agency and the combined regional academy before each class.

The city entered into a 5-year lease agreement with Localworks, effective March 2, 2023, for the purposes of establishing the Clear Creek Makerspace (CCM) at a city owned building located at 9110 West 44th Avenue. Localworks is seeking grant funding to expand the operations of the CCM. Grantors have recommended that Localworks seek an extension of their lease to be more competitive for funding. Localworks is requesting an extension of their lease with the city to May 12, 2035.

In 2015, the Colorado Legislature passed HB15-1348 amending the urban renewal statute requiring certain processes occur upon the adoption of a new plan area or a substantial modification to an existing plan. One requirement is the addition of new board members representing the affected taxing entities. This expands the Wheat Ridge Urban Renewal Authority, dba Renewal Wheat Ridge, membership to thirteen. This ordinance will amend the current code section in the Wheat Ridge Code of Laws to provide for the new members.

This ordinance amends Chapter 26 of the Wheat Ridge Code of Laws to update Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) requirements to comply with state legislation and recent policy direction from City Council.

This ordinance amends Chapter 26 of the Wheat Ridge Code of Laws to update residential occupancy limits to comply with a recent update to the City Charter and state legislation.

The City received a request from HCA HealthONE LLC and its affiliate HCA HealthONE Rose to amend the Wheat Ridge Code of Laws to allow for freestanding emergency departments (FSED) in the city and for the development of a medical campus at the northwest corner of 38th Avenue and Wadsworth Boulevard.

Fruitdale School Partners LLC intends to sell the Fruitdale School Lofts property to Foothills Regional Housing. The purpose of the sale is to ensure the long-term affordability of the 16 dwelling units. To facilitate the sale, certain agreements need to be in place to terminate the prior development agreement and to establish the financial obligations for the proposed sale.

In 2024, the city undertook completion of a Stormwater Master Plan. The Plan outlines various capital projects that will prevent flooding of private property. The goals of the Plan included establishing a baseline hydrologic study and providing solutions that addressed existing stormwater issues. In addition, costs to maintain the existing system along with the cost of various operational needs results in a comprehensive Stormwater Program for possible implementation over the next 10-year period.

The City of Wheat Ridge’s procurement program supports departments across the City by ensuring millions of dollars in project, supplier and contractor spending is properly solicited and reported, and that best value is achieved. Staff is working to implement software improvements to streamline and modernize this program. In preparation for these changes, staff has revised the existing procurement policy to provide increased clarity, improved procedures, increased thresholds to streamline the process, and additional information about legal and ethical requirements.

The original completion date for the Improve Wadsworth Project was established in the original contract between the city and the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) as October 25, 2025. Construction is currently on-going with substantial completion expected by the end of 2025. Final completion is expected in the spring of 2026. As the project will not be complete by the contract date, it is necessary to extend the contract completion date to October 25, 2030 to ensure that adequate time is provided for project closeout.

Councilmember Weaver has taught a project-based course in the spring for graduate students from CU Denver to tackle current geographical issues with geospatial tools such as GIS. Over the past few years, the course has partnered with City staff to create and address city-specific projects as part of the curriculum. The students will be presenting the outcomes of this semester’s projects to City Council.

Several years before RTD constructed its commuter rail line in the northwest corner of Wheat Ridge, the city initiated several projects to construct a variety of public infrastructure projects that would facilitate and catalyze private sector investment in the area surrounding the Ward Station. One of these projects would construct a pedestrian bridge over the rail tracks and a multiuse trail to connect the area south of the rail tracks directly to the RTD Ward Station. The bridge would include elevator access on both sides as well as a pedestrian plaza with public art, irrigated landscaping and pedestrian lighting to create a high-quality pedestrian amenity. The city agreed in early discussions with RTD staff to maintain the structure. This infrastructure would allow area residents and employees to more safely and conveniently access the station. The city has faced many obstacles in bringing this project to fruition. Also, the costs of the project have escalated significantly since the initial concept was developed leading to staff’s recommendation, at this time, to delay the project and return the TIP grant to DRCOG. Staff are seeking concurrence from the City Council on this recommended action.