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Planning Commission
City Council – City Council Meeting
Mon, Sep 25, 2023 at 6:30pm
1 Agenda Items
Virtual and In-Person
Item No. 1 - ORD - rezoning of property at 7575 W. 44th Ave
• Open for comment
The City of Wheat Ridge is requesting approval of a zone change from Commercial-One (C-1) to Mixed Use-Commercial (MU-C) for the property at 7575 W. 44th Avenue. The City currently owns the property and will be transferring the land to Foothills Regional Housing. The zone change will result in a zoning that encourages revitalization and redevelopment of the site. Foothills Regional Housing intends to incorporate the site for a future expansion of the Ives development. This request is solely addressing the potential zone change and the City has not received or reviewed any redevelopment proposals for the site at this time.
1
Past Meetings
City Council – Study Session
Mon, Sep 18, 2023 at 6:30pm
2 Agenda Items
Public's Right to Speak
Item No. 1 - 2024 Proposed Budget
On September 18, 2023, the proposed 2024 City Budget will be presented to City Council for review and discussion. This memorandum includes an outline of the public engagement steps that have occurred to date and the future actions required by City Charter to adopt the budget. In addition, the 2024 Budget Message is included which summarizes the various components of the proposed budget.
City Council – City Council Meeting
Mon, Sep 11, 2023 at 6:30pm
9 Agenda Items
Virtual or In-person
Public's Right to Speak
Item No. 1a - MOTION - payment to Insight Public Sector
Approved
The City’s current three-year Microsoft Enterprise Agreement expires on September 30, 2023. This three-year renewal continues the City’s subscription of Office 365 (including Exchange, SharePoint, OneDrive, and Teams), inclusive of implementation and support. Due to the COVID-19 emergency and the increase in remote workers, staff recommended migrating to Microsoft’s cloud computing solution with Office 365 and Teams with this renewal. During the cyber-incident recovery, staff completed the move from on-premises systems to the Microsoft 365 environment. Office 365 and Teams enables staff to collaborate remotely to a greater degree.
Item No. 1b - MOTION - project award to Reliant Mechanical
Approved
A project to replace the Recreation Center’s heat recovery units (HRUs) was included in the 2023 budget. The scope of the proposed project was developed by the Facilities staff with evaluation by an external mechanical engineer. Six heat recovery units will be replaced with new, energy efficient units through this project. Due to the long lead time to manufacture the units, installation will not occur until the spring of 2024. Staff recommends awarding a contract to Reliant Mechanical Services, LLC of Denver, Colorado in the amount of $1,250,000 plus a staff-managed contingency of $62,500 for a total not-to-exceed amount of $1,312,500.
Item No, 1c - MOTION - project award to Seven Point Const.
Approved
A project to update the Courts administrative area was budgeted several years ago. The scope of the proposed project was developed by the Facilities staff in consultation with Courts staff. New flooring, painting, and lighting will be installed as well as modification to the two transaction windows where staff assists patrons to make them more functional and ADA accessible. New office furniture will be provided through a separate contract. Staff recommends awarding a contract to Seven Point Construction, Inc. of Centennial, Colorado in the amount of $121,700 plus a staff-managed contingency of $24,340 for a total not-to-exceed amount of $146,040.
Item No. 1d - MOTION - project award to OfficeScapes, Inc.
Approved
A project to update the Courts administrative area was budgeted several years ago. The scope of the proposed project was developed by the Facilities staff in consultation with Courts staff. New flooring, painting, and lighting will be installed as well as modification to the two transaction windows. New office furniture will also be procured and installed for the space, through this contract. The furniture and appurtenances are being purchased through OfficeScapes, Inc. in accordance with the cooperative purchasing contract for Steelcase materials through Sourcewell. Staff recommends awarding a contract to OfficeScapes, Inc. of Denver, Colorado in the amount of $83,772.34 plus a staff-managed contingency of $4,188 for a total not-to-exceed amount of $87,960.34.
Item No. 2 - ORD - Zone Change at 4735 Kipling St (Best Inter...
Approved
The applicant is requesting approval of a zone change from Commercial-One (C-1) to Mixed Use-Commercial Interstate (MU-C Interstate) for the property at 4735 Kipling Street. The applicant is the property owner. The purpose of the zone change is to enable reinvestment by allowing a wider range of uses, encouraging a better utilization of land, and ensuring high quality urban design. The applicant intends to repurpose the existing buildings for multi-unit apartments.
Item No. 3 - ORD - WR Code of Laws amend re: subdivision req
Approved
The proposed ordinance updates Chapter 2 and Chapter 26 of the Code of Laws to revise the City’s subdivision and development review requirements. The ordinance accomplishes three main goals: 1) to prioritize meaningful public engagement and education intended to inform the public of impactful subdivision applications, 2) to reduce reliance on public hearings when the proposed uses and designs are permitted by the underlying zoning, and 3) to reduce duplication and unnecessary cross-references within the Code to ensure it is easy to understand and administer.
Item No. 4 - ORD - amend WR Code of Laws re: Telecom Srvc
Approved
The City’s code regarding the taxation of basic local telecommunication services requires revision. The current code is based on the false premise that Lumen (formerly US West, Qwest, and Century Link) is still the primary provider of telephone lines in the City. Based on this premise, competitors are charged a per line rate computed from Lumen’s number of lines and the flat occupation tax paid by Lumen per ordinance 1997-1072. Due to the rapid decline of land lines provided by Lumen, the per line charge to other providers has risen substantially. Furthermore, the current code is confusing as to how cellular lines are treated from a taxation perspective. The types and means of delivery of telecommunication services has evolved significantly since the City enacted its telecommunication occupation tax code in 1997. The current code does not reflect the status of the telecommunications industry nor is it consistent with Wheat Ridge’s municipal neighbors. Staff recommends an update to the tax code to ensure equity, simplicity, revenue preservation and ease of administration for both telecommunication providers and City staff.
Item No. 5 - MOTION - accept 2022 Financial Statements
Approved
Section 10.15 of the Municipal Charter for the City of Wheat Ridge requires that an independent audit be performed annually of all City accounts. In 2022, the City received more than $750,000 in federal funds for Wadsworth Boulevard which also triggered a “single audit” of all federal funds. The CPA firm CliftonLarsonAllen (CLA) performed both the City and federal audits of the City’s financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2022. Once again, this year, the City received an unqualified opinion indicating that the City’s financial statements are fairly and appropriately presented. A representative from CLA will be at the September 11, 2023, City Council meeting to present the 2022 Financial Statements to Council for acceptance.
City Council – Special Study Session
Mon, Aug 28, 2023 at 7:00pm
2 Agenda Items
Virtual or In-Person
Public's Right to Speak
Pending
Item No. 1 - 38th West street improvement
Pending
“Re-examine and Advance Sidewalks on 38th Avenue” was identified as one of Council’s priorities in the 2021-2022 Strategic Plan. This priority has been divided into two separate geographic areas: 1) 38th West (Kipling Street to Youngfield Street); and 2) 38th East (Wadsworth Boulevard to Harlan Street). The purpose of this memo is to provide Council with an update on the study for 38th West that is currently underway which is focused on adding adequate bicycle and pedestrian (bike/ped) improvements and improving stormwater drainage while still accommodating the vehicular traffic. This memo summarizes the public outreach that has been completed in association with Public Meeting #1 and the work that is being done in response to that outreach. Also included are next steps outlining what is being done to prepare for Public Meeting #2.
City Council – City Council Meeting
Mon, Aug 28, 2023 at 6:30pm
13 Agenda Items
Virtual or In-person
Public's Right to Speak
Item No. 1a - Resolution supporting three JCOS apps
Approved
The Parks and Recreation Department wishes to submit three applications to the Jefferson County Open Space Trails Partnership Program to request funding for three trail projects across the city. A City Council resolution of support is required for the applications.
Item No. 1b - Motion for Urban Renewal Appt.
Approved
On July 5, 2023, Kristi Davis from District II resigned from the Wheat Ridge Urban Renewal Authority d/b/a Renewal Wheat Ridge, effective immediately. The vacancy was posted for a term of four weeks on the City of Wheat Ridge website and promoted through various channels from July 17-August 11. Appointments to the Authority are made by the Mayor, subject to approval by a majority vote of the entire City Council. There is one applicant from District II, who newly applied, and two applicants from other districts who applied in January during the regularly scheduled reappointment process. If, after reasonable advertisement, no applications are received from residents within the relevant City Council district vacancy on the Authority, any otherwise qualified resident of the City may be appointed.
Item No. 1c - Resolution re: pedest. imp. at 38th & Reed St.
Approved
The City was awarded a Revitalizing Main Streets grant from the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) in the amount of $70,000 to reconstruct the sidewalk on the south side of 38th Avenue at Reed Street and install an enhanced crosswalk across 38th Avenue on the east side of Reed Street. The full cost of the project, $85,126, exceeds the grant amount. A supplemental budget appropriation is required to accept and appropriate the grant and supplemental in the 2023 budget.
Item 1d - Resolution re: CDEC Grant
Approved
In 2022, the City was awarded federal funding through the State of Colorado Department of Early Childhood’s Child Care Stabilization and Workforce Sustainability grant program for the Sun Camp and Licensed Preschool childcare program through June 30, 2023. The Department of Early Childhood has offered additional grant funding in the amount of $37,586.79 for these programs through September 30, 2023. A resolution approving a supplemental budget appropriation is required to accept and appropriate this additional grant funding.
Item No. 1e - Resolution re: 32nd Ave. bike lanes
Approved
A contract was previously awarded to David Evans & Associates, Inc. (DEA) for the 32nd Avenue Bike Lanes project. After the contract award, the City received a transportation improvement (TIP) grant providing additional construction funding and the ability to provide better bike/ped facilities for the westbound direction. The TIP grant federalizes the process and increases the environmental clearance process. An amendment to the 32nd Avenue Bike Lanes contract with DEA, in the amount of $132,868, is being presented for consideration to includethe additional design and environmental work associated with the TIP grant.
Item No. 1f - Motion re: asphalt for Rec. Ctr. Repair
Approved
A contract for the repair of the Recreation Center parking lot was approved by City Council in June 2023 in the amount of $485,900.72 plus a staff-managed contingency of $48,500 for a total not-to-exceed contract amount of $534,400.72. Staff is requesting that the contingency amount be increased by an additional $55,000 to account for additional work on the project that has been identified since contract award. Specifically, the project would install additional ADA-accessible parking stalls, enhanced striping for electrical vehicle parking, and drainage improvements along the rear access road to the facility. This would increase the total not-to-exceed amount of the contract to $589,400.72.
Item No. 2 - Ordinance re: Hotel Licensing
Approved
On October 25, 2021, City Council passed ordinance 1723, adding a new article XIV to Chapter 11 and updating use schedules in Chapter 26 of the Wheat Ridge Code of Laws to establish a hotel licensing program. Sec. 11-569 of the Code requires Council to review the implementation of the ordinance on or before June 30, 2023, and every 18 months thereafter. Council conducted a review of the ordinance on June 12, 2023, and provided consensus for some updates to the Wheat Ridge Code of Laws.
Item No. 3 - Sales Tax Extension ballot issue
Approved
On July 17, 2023, City Council directed staff to move forward with a ballot question for the November 2023 election to extend the City’s one-half of one cent (0.50%) sales and use tax for 20 years and to issue debt to finance up to $75 million in public infrastructure improvements. These improvements would include sidewalk, bike lane and street improvements along primary street corridors, sidewalk gap construction and other sidewalk maintenance along major pedestrian corridors and routes to schools and drainage and floodplain infrastructure improvements at priority locations in the City. To include this question on the 2023 ballot, the City Council must set the final ballot language and submit it to the Jefferson County Clerk and Recorder by September 8th. Setting the ballot language by ordinance requires a first reading on August 14th and a second reading and public hearing on August 28th to meet this deadline. The attached ordinance accomplishes this.
Item No. 4 - Ordinance rezoning 7575 W. 44th Ave.
Approved
The City owns the former Bank of the West property at 7575 W. 44th Avenue and is proposing a zone change from Commercial-One (C-1) to Mixed Use-Commercial (MU-C). The zone change will result in a zoning that matches surrounding zoning and enables redevelopment of the site by expanding permitted uses.
Item No. 5 - Ordinance amend. sub. & dev. review req
Approved
The proposed ordinance updates Chapter 2 and Chapter 26 of the Code of Laws to revise the City’s subdivision and development review requirements. The ordinance accomplishes three main goals: 1) to prioritize meaningful public engagement and education intended to inform the public of impactful subdivision applications, 2) to reduce reliance on public hearings when the proposed uses and designs are permitted by the underlying zoning, and 3) to reduce duplication and unnecessary cross-references within the Code to ensure it is easy to understand and administer.
Item No. 6 - Resolution re: IGA with CDOT
Approved
In 2022, the city worked with its respective Senators and House Representative to obtain an additional $4 million in federal funding for the Improve Wadsworth Project. This funding, approved in December 2022, is via congressionally directed spending (CDS) through the Highway Improvement Program within the Fiscal Year 2023 omnibus funding bill. An amendment to the Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) is necessary to add these funds to the project budget.
Item No. 7 - Resolution approving ROW Google Fiber
Approved
Google Fiber approached the city in late-2022 to discuss installation of a new 100% fiber optic network internet service in the city’s rights-of-way. The city would grant a non-exclusive license agreement to Google Fiber to use and occupy the public rights-of-way to install, operate, and maintain a fiber optic infrastructure network for the purpose of offering communications services including broadband Internet access service and Voice over Internet Protocol services. City staff have negotiated an agreement that will protect the right-of-way and ensure adequate oversight during the construction process. The term of the agreement is for an initial 20 years.
1
City Council – Study Session
Mon, Aug 21, 2023 at 6:30pm
4 Agenda Items
Virtual and In-person
Public's Right to Speak
Item No. 1 - Presentation Lutheran Med. Ctr. Fdtn.
Councilmembers Hoppe and Dozeman requested to add to a future study session a presentation from the Lutheran Medical Center Foundation. Kathie Repola, ExecutiveDirector of the Foundation, will be at the August 21 study session to provide suchpresentation.
Item No. 2 - Affordable Housing Update
Addressing housing affordability is one of the City’s and State’s most pressing issues. Colorado voters enacted Proposition 123 in 2022 that will make several hundred million dollars available for affordable housing statewide starting in late 2023. For a project to be eligible for these funds in Wheat Ridge, the City must file a commitment to increase its supply of affordable housing over the next three years to the State of Colorado, Division of Housing. This commitment is due by November 1, 2023.
Item No. 3 - Telecommunications Occupation Tax
The City’s code regarding the taxation of basic local telecommunication services requires revision. The current code is based on the false premise that Lumen (formerly US West, Qwest, and Century Link) is still the primary provider of telephone lines in the City. Based on this premise, competitors are charged a per line rate computed from Lumen’s number of lines and the flat occupation tax paid by Lumen per ordinance 1997-1072. Due to the rapid decline of land lines provided by Lumen, the per line charge to other providers has risen substantially. Furthermore, the current code is confusing as to how cellular lines are treated from a taxation perspective. The types and means of delivery of telecommunication services has evolved significantly since the City enacted its telecommunication occupation tax code in 1997. The current code does not reflect the status of the telecommunications industry nor is it consistent with Wheat Ridge’s municipal neighbors. Staff recommends an update to the tax code to ensure equity, simplicity, revenue preservation and ease of administration for both telecommunications providers and City staff.
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