The city purchases and applies deicer materials each year as part of its snow and ice control efforts. The city has participated in a cooperative bidding process through the Colorado Multiple Assembly of Procurement Officials (MAPO) to obtain the best pricing. The city will utilize a City of Fort Collins contract with Independent Salt to purchase materials for 2025 in an amount not to exceed $135,000.

Each year, the city identifies a proposed list of vehicle replacements within the city fleet. In 2025, eight vehicles were identified for replacement. Three of these vehicles were for the Police Department. Staff have researched various options with the Police Department and recommends the purchase of three Chevrolet Tahoes from John Elway Chevrolet at a total price of $173,170. Staff also requests approval to purchase and install auxiliary equipment required for the operation of the new vehicles along with the installation of lighting and markings at a total additional cost of $35,500. Therefore, the total requested amount is $208,670.

In February 2025, the Colorado Gives Foundation awarded the Wheat Ridge Homeless Navigation Program $25,000 to be used to support people experiencing homelessness. A supplemental budget appropriation is required to spend these funds.

The city intends to legislatively rezone the Lutheran Legacy Campus to the newly-created Mixed Use – Lutheran Legacy Campus (MU-LLC) zone district.

The Green at 38th project is scheduled to be completed in the summer of 2025. The Policy and Procedure for Naming Parks and Recreation Department Parks and Facilities, adopted in February of 2009, requires the approval of a 2/3 majority of the City Council to name a new facility. As this project has been commonly known in the community as “The Green at 38th”, staff recommends its formal adoption by City Council.

The Wheat Ridge Legislative Committee recommends that City Council adopt a resolution in support of House Bill 25-1272, Construction Defects and Middle Market Housing.

The Legislative Forum is an opportunity for the City’s elected officials and staff to discuss legislative priorities, current legislation, and Wheat Ridge positions and priorities for the 2025 session. Senator Jessie Danielson and Representative Monica Duran will be in attendance, and Colorado Municipal League Legislative Advocacy Manager Heather Stauffer will be available to review legislation and answer questions.

The purpose of this study session is to provide City Council with an update on the City Plan process and to have a discussion with council members regarding the content included in the fourth phase of City Plan public engagement. Phase 4 includes a set of tools that the city can use to guide public and private investment to align with community priorities. It also examines how these tools might be used in different locations around Wheat Ridge and maps out what implementation might look like after adoption of the plan. Attachment 1 is content provided by the City Plan consultant, czb, which includes the details of the City Plan to support this study session.

In March 2023, the city began a planning study of the 38th Avenue corridor between Youngfield Street and Kipling Street with the goals of improving the roadway to accommodate pedestrians and bicyclists, while still accommodating vehicular traffic, as well as providing improved stormwater drainage. The study combined public input with technical analysis to develop a recommended alternative for the corridor. Staff will provide City Council with the results of the third round of public input, provide information on the Xcel overhead line undergrounding cost, and seek concurrence on the preferred direction for final design.

There are 67 open purchase orders from the 2024 budget that will be carried over to the 2025 budget. Each purchase order is associated with a specific project that was not fully completed in the 2024 fiscal year. The funds which were encumbered for these purchase orders were transferred to the unreserved fund balance of the relevant fund when the purchase orders were closed. To continue or close out these projects in 2025, a supplemental budget appropriation in the amount of $5,164,449 is necessary to allow transfer of these funds into specific budget line items in the 2025 Budget.

In discussions with Council prior to the 2J bond issuance, it was agreed that $7.4 million of the $12.6 million 2E Fund balance would be used to pay down the 2017 bonds. At that time, the remaining debit service on the 2017 bonds was approximately $12.4 million. The additional $5.0 million needed to completely pay off the 2017 bonds was included in the $38.7 million 2J bond issuance proceeds. City Staff believed the $5.0 million payoff would be made through escrow, rather than an expense to the City. Rather, the $5.0 million was included in the total amount of 2J bond issuance proceeds that the City received and the payoff is considered a 2E expense. Therefore, in order to be fully transparent with the community and to comply with the City’s budgetary procedures, a supplemental appropriation and transfer of funds is necessary.

City Council is asked to approve the Service Plan and Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) for the Legacy Metropolitan District Nos. 1-12, a taxing district to be used to finance certain improvements for the Lutheran Legacy Campus redevelopment. Service Plan approval is the means by which the City oversees the creation of such districts, which are ultimately approved for formation by the district court.

The Colorado state treasurer's office has advised the City of a state statute govering unclaimed property. The statute referenced is the Colorado Revised Uniform Unclaimed Property Act, CRS 38-13-101 et seq. (the “Act’). The Act generally requires holders of unclaimed property, such as the City, to disburse unclaimed cash and cash instruments to the state treasurer. The City may exempt itself from the Act, but only if it has adopted a local ordinance concerning unclaimed property which conflicts with the Act. This ordinance revises Code sections to comply with the Act while perserving the City’s authority to dispose of unclaimed property. The ordinance simplifies the Code sections on disposition of unclaimed property generally and property held by the police department.

As of March 2, 2025, the terms of twenty-one Board, Commission, and Committee members of the City of Wheat Ridge will expire. Additionally, there are six existing vacancies to fill which include seats on the Board of Adjustment, Parks and Recreation Commission, Community Partners Grant Program, and the IDEA Committee. These twenty-seven positions in total are to be filled or reappointed.

The City Council meeting on March 10, 2025, currently coincides with the NLC Conference located in Washington D.C. As multiple members of the City Council will be attending the NLC Conference when this meeting is scheduled to occur, staff is requesting to cancel the March 10, 2025, City Council meeting.

Three (3) bids were received in response to the city’s Invitation for Bids to construct the Wheat Ridge Recreation Center Bridge Settlement Repair Project. The lowest responsive bidder was KECI Civil, Inc. It is recommended that the city enter a contract with KECI Civil to perform the repair work on the Wheat Ridge Recreation Center bridge.

The Mile High Flood District planned to update the Master Drainageway Plan (MDP) for Clear Creek, between Kipling Street and Wadsworth Boulevard, in 2023. An Intergovernmental Agreement between the Mile High Flood District and the city was executed in December 2022. This first amendment to that agreement is being proposed to address the increased funding required for services necessary to complete the analysis and issue a report.

The Public Works Department is proposing the purchase of various snow and ice control equipment, lighting, and hydraulics to be installed on a new, replacement snowplow truck. The total expense of the various equipment, including installation, is estimated to be approximately $190,000 based on a quote provided by Holman Upfitting Truck Services.

The City of Wheat Ridge was awarded $475,854 from the Jeffco Open Space (JCOS) Trails Partnership Program. The award is approximately 33% of the estimated cost for design and construction improvements for certain segments of the Clear Creek Trail to align with the county’s region trail standards. To receive the funding, the City must accept the grant award by directing the Mayor to sign the attached Grant Agreement.

The City of Wheat Ridge was awarded $10,000 from the Jefferson County Open Space Foundation’s Nature’s Next Stewards Program. The funding will support a second weekly field trip for summer Sun Camp participants in 2025; focusing on visiting natural spaces in the county and paired with environmental education. To increase the Sun Camp 2025 budget to spend the funding appropriately, the City must increase the Sun Camp operating supplies budget by passing a supplemental budget appropriation.

The Colorado state treasurer's office has advised the City of a state statute govering unclaimed property. The statute referenced is the Colorado Revised Uniform Unclaimed Property Act, CRS 38-13-101 et seq. (the “Act’). The Act generally requires holders of unclaimed property, such as the City, to disburse unclaimed cash and cash instruments to the state treasurer. The City may exempt itself from the Act, but only if it has adopted a local ordinance concerning unclaimed property which conflicts with the Act. This ordinance revises Code sections to comply with the Act while perserving the City’s authority to dispose of unclaimed property. The ordinance simplifies the Code sections on disposition of unclaimed property generally and property held by the police department.

The City of Wheat Ridge’s 2025 Legislative Agenda will guide the City’s advocacy on state-level policy decisions that could significantly impact the City. Developed in collaboration with the City’s Legislative Committee, the Agenda establishes clear positions on anticipated legislation for the 2025 Colorado Legislative Session. It serves as both a framework for the City’s advocacy efforts and a resource for state legislators considering policies affecting Wheat Ridge.

In March 2023, the city began a planning study of the 38th Avenue corridor, between Youngfield Street and Kipling Street, with the goals of improving the roadway to accommodate pedestrians and bicyclists while still accommodating vehicular traffic and providing improved stormwater drainage. The study consultant, Ayres Associates, Inc., has presented a final version of their report to staff, and the next step is to develop constructions plans to build the improvements along 38th Avenue. Ayres Associates, Inc. has been selected to complete the design work due to their previous work and current knowledge of the specific needs along 38th Avenue.

Planning and design work associated with the Tabor Lake Trail project has reached completion. JOC Contracting, LLC was selected through Sourcewell cooperative purchasing to complete the construction phase of this project. This project will create a connection to the Clear Creek Trail from 44th Avenue through Van Gordon Street. Formalizing the existing social trail adjacent to Tabor Lake will provide a wider, safer, ADA accessible path to the Clear Creek Trail, and will enhance birding experiences by adding a bird blind and lake overview shelter.

In 2023, staff recommended updates to the city’s sign code, specifically related to billboards. Code updates included removing the lottery process for billboard vacancies, reducing the number of billboards allowed in the city from 16 to 15 (and lower as billboards are abandoned), establishing a maximum distance between a billboard and the highway, and clarifying that “changeable copy” or digital billboards are not allowed. Since then, individuals representing billboard companies, has approached city staff and councilmembers requesting code amendments that would allow digital signs in two specific contexts. First, they are requesting the city to reconsider its prohibition on digital billboards. Second, they are requesting the city to consider expanding allowances for digital signs on city property (including right-of-way) to allow for a public-private partnership (PPP) related to digital ad sales. This memo is organized into two parts to describe the implications of each request.

This ordinance creates a new Article XIV (14) in Chapter 26 of the Wheat Ridge Code of Laws that establishes a new zone district, the Mixed-Use Lutheran Legacy Campus (MU-LLC) zone district. The zone district regulations establish development standards for the future redevelopment of the former hospital site based on the adopted Lutheran Legacy Campus Master Plan and City Council consensus. Approval of this ordinance will allow for the Lutheran Legacy Campus to be rezoned to the new MU-LLC zone district in the future.

This ordinance clarifies that board and commission members who change their personal residence to another council district within the city may continue to be a member representing the district for which they were appointed until the end of the term for which they were appointed.

The City is required to periodically review the Wheat Ridge Municipal Traffic Code to ensure conformance with State of Colorado Traffic Ordinances. The newest version of the Model Traffic Code was adopted by the State of Colorado in 2024. To stay consistent and up to date with the newest Colorado Traffic Codes and to ensure the citizens of Wheat Ridge are best served by the updated Model Traffic Code, adoption of the newest code is recommended.

Per the Wheat Ridge Code of Laws, membership in the police pension plan does not currently extend to recruits entering the academy. Recruits are therefore placed in the civilian plan for approximately six months, then enrolled in the sworn plan. This is administratively burdensome for staff and challenging for recruits. This ordinance amends the code to allow recruits to enroll immediately into the police pension plan.

This Resolution amends the Bylaws for the IDEA and Sustainable Wheat Ridge Committees, so their term dates conform with other Boards, Commission, and Committees. The only Commission which does not conform is the Election Commission, as its membership terms are set by the Home Rule Charter.

In 2023 the city entered into an agreement with WEX Bank to provide fuel cards for each city vehicle which can then be used at any participating gas station in their network. WEX tracks the expenses and provides one invoice to the city monthly for all fuel purchases. The program is currently being utilized by the Police Department for efficiency and as another means of having officers visible in the community. This action will encumber funds in the amount of $167,700 for all WEX purchases in 2025.

The city provides on-site fuel tanks at the Public Works Shop to allow for fueling of city vehicles. Purchase and delivery of fuel is provided on a periodic basis from Senergy Petroleum of Arvada, Colorado. Senergy was selected as the preferred vendor based on a procurement process through the Colorado Multiple Assembly of Procurement Officials (MAPO) in 2022. This action will encumber funds in the amount of $124,900 for fuel purchases, including delivery to the Shop, in 2025.

The city purchases and applies deicer materials each year as part of its snow and ice control efforts. The city has participated in a cooperative bidding process through the Colorado Multiple Assembly of Procurement Officials (MAPO) to obtain the best pricing. The city will utilize a City of Fort Collins contract with Central Salt to purchase materials for 2025 in an amount not to exceed $135,000.

The City’s various facilities require consistent custodial service. Ensuring clean and hygienic public and workspaces is fundamental to the safe operation of the city organization and community services. Staff is recommending approval of a contract to S&B Confluence d/b/a Jani-King of Colorado in the amount of $419,350 plus a contingency for unforeseen items of $12,000 for the 2025 calendar year.

The City currently contracts annually for mowing, weed prevention and mitigation, and trash pickup in various right-of-way areas. Terracare Associates, LLC was selected in 2023 through a competitive bid process. This amendment accepts a request for a 3% increase in compensation for 2025.

On May 14, 2013, an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) was reached between the County of Jefferson, the City of Arvada, the City of Lakewood, and the City of Wheat Ridge establishing the Jefferson County Regional Crime Laboratory (JCRCL) in an effort to regionalize forensic crime laboratory services. A second amendment is requested to allow the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) to become a party to the IGA.

The Colorado Intergovernmental Risk Sharing Agency (CIRSA) provides property and casualty coverage for the City of Wheat Ridge. The total premium payment due for 2025 is $581,329 and is split into quarterly payments.

The City offers employees a number of benefits in order to attract and retain a high-quality workforce. In 2023, the City joined the Colorado Employer Benefit Trust (CEBT) to provide a greater choice than previously offered of medical plans along with dental, vision, employee assistance program (EAP) and life insurance coverage. January through December billing is estimated and budgeted in the amount of $2,517,979. Staff requests approval of the estimated 2025 total expenditure so that monthly payments can be made in a timely manner.

The applicant is requesting to modify the underlying zoning for certain areas of Clear Creek Crossing to refine allowed uses, setbacks, street, plaza, and multi-modal requirements. The intent of these changes is to relocate the main restaurant and entertainment district to the western edge of the site and to create a premiere pedestrian corridor to connect users from W. 40th Avenue.

In 2023, the Colorado General Assembly approved the Colorado Natural Medicine Act, creating a regulatory structure for natural medicines and the operation of licensed healing centers. Under the Act, the City may regulate the time, place and manner of healing centers licensed by the state, but the City may not prohibit the uses entirely. This ordinance allows healing centers in the City’s commercial, industrial, and mixed-use zone districts in a manner similar to medical offices. The ordinance also memorializes the state-enacted separation from schools and daycares.

Applewood RV Resort, LLC is requesting approval of an amendment to the Prospect Park Place ODP at property located at 11600 W. 44th Avenue. The purpose of the request is to amend the existing zoning to expand RV camping uses onto Lot 1, located on the northernmost portion of the site.

This ordinance creates a new Article XIV (14) in Chapter 26 of the Wheat Ridge Code of Laws that establishes a new zone district, the Mixed-Use Lutheran Legacy Campus (MU-LLC) zone district. The zone district regulations establish development standards for the future redevelopment of the former hospital site based on the adopted Lutheran Legacy Campus Master Plan and City Council consensus. Approval of this ordinance will allow for the Lutheran Legacy Campus to be rezoned to the new MU-LLC zone district in the future.

This ordinance clarifies that board and commission members who change their personal residence to another council district within the city may continue to be a member representing the district for which they were appointed until the end of the term for which they were appointed.

The City is required to periodically review the Wheat Ridge Municipal Traffic Code to ensure conformance with State of Colorado Traffic Ordinances. The newest version of the Model Traffic Code was adopted by the State of Colorado in 2024. To stay consistent and up to date with the newest Colorado Traffic Codes and to ensure the citizens of Wheat Ridge are best served by the updated Model Traffic Code, adoption of the newest code is recommended.

Per the Wheat Ridge Code of Laws, membership in the police pension plan does not currently extend to recruits entering the academy. Recruits are therefore placed in the civilian plan for approximately six months, then enrolled in the sworn plan. This is administratively burdensome for staff and challenging for recruits. This ordinance amends the code to allow recruits to enroll immediately into the police pension plan.

Each year City Council Members elect by a majority vote a Mayor Pro Tem who serves until their successor is elected. The election is conducted according to Section III (B) of the City Council Rules of Order and Procedure as follows: B. MAYOR PRO TEM 1. At the first or second Regular meeting in January of each year, the Council shall elect a Mayor Pro Tem who shall serve until their successor is elected. The procedure shall be as follows: a) The Chair will announce that the floor is open for nominations for the position of Mayor Pro Tem. b) Nominations will be taken from City Council members by voice. No second is needed. c) Each nominee will have the opportunity to address the Council. d) A motion and second is then in order to elect one of the nominees to the position of Mayor Pro Tem. If the motion is not carried, additional motions are in order until a Mayor Pro Tem is elected by a majority of Council present.

State statutes require that each municipality annually establish the location for posting public notices, as well as the newspaper in which the notices will be published. Local government entities are also allowed to publish notices on-line for public meetings. These include meetings at which the adoption of any proposed policy, position, resolution, rule, regulation, or formal action occurs or at which a majority or quorum of body is in attendance.

This resolution acknowledges the climate emergency and reaffirms City Council’s commitment towards taking actions to reduce Wheat Ridge’s contribution to climate change and mitigate its impacts on the community.

Staff has developed proposed enhancements to the Community Partners Grant Program for City Council’s consideration.

In late-2023, all Capital Improvement Program (CIP) responsibilities were aligned to be delivered by the Public Works Department from the beginning of a project (planning, design, environmental) through the end (construction and close out). The city has recently hired several new staff to oversee and manage the CIP who will be introduced at the Study Session. Staff will also provide a brief overview of the planned CIP activities for the upcoming year.

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 26 OF THE WHEAT RIDGE CODE OF LAWS, CONCERNING REGULATION OF NATURAL MEDICINE SERVICES AND HEALING CENTERS

Request for approval of a Specific Development Plan for a Bonfire Burritos drive-thru restaurant in Planning Area 6 of the Clear Creek Crossing development.

The Economic Development Division of the City Manager’s Office and its consultant, Progressive Urban Management Associates (PUMA), have completed a final draft of an Economic Development Strategic Plan. This strategic plan is being branded as the Wheat Ridge Prosperity Plan (the Plan) and is being developed as a stand-alone document to be used by the City Manager’s Economic Development Division. PUMA and City Staff will provide an update primarily on the Plan’s Implementation Matrix, which can be found in Section A of the Appendix (Attachment 2). The final recommended plan will be presented to City Council at a future date for adoption.

Additional services are needed from HDR, Inc., to complete the valuation and acquisition negotiation for various land parcels needed to construct the Ward Station Multi-Modal Improvements project.

On-going design support services are needed from the design engineer, HDR, Inc., through the remainder of the construction phase for the Improve Wadsworth project.

The design plans and associated documents for the Ward Station Multi-Modal Project are approximately 90% complete. Due to on-going coordination issues with various agencies, it is necessary to approve a contract with Short-Elliot-Hendrickson, Inc. (SEH) for professional design services to complete the design of this project.

On-going construction management services are needed from AECOM Technical Services, Inc. for the 2025 construction period of the Improve Wadsworth project. A new contract has been established to specify deliverables associated with these efforts.

The calendar of the City Council meetings is adopted by a motion of the City Council annually. Adopting the meeting calendar for the year is more efficient and enables the Mayor, Council, and staff to schedule other events and travel in advance. The Council will be able to amend the calendar by motion throughout the year, if necessary. The following City Council meetings that conflict with observed City holidays or other known events during the year are recommended for cancellation. • Study Session, January 20, 2025 – Martin Luther King, Jr. Day • Study Session, February 17, 2025 – President’s Day • Regular City Council Meeting, May 26, 2025 – Memorial Day • Study Session, September 1, 2025 – Labor Day Council may want to also consider the following City Council meetings that conflict with other meetings or community events: • Regular City Council Meeting, March 10, 2025 – National League of Cities Conference • Regular City Council Meeting, March 24, 2025 – Jeffco Schools spring break • Regular City Council Meeting, December 22, 2025 – Christmas holiday

Over the course of the last three years, the City has evaluated its systems and business processes in order to streamline and modernize essential organizational functions. The City has selected five systems to drive efficiency and modernize business practices across the enterprise. The fourth system to be purchased and implemented is Paycom which will modernize employee operations and practices including personnel, payroll, recruiting, onboarding, performance management and training.

Chapter 21 of the city’s municipal code provides for construction and other work activities within or upon the public right-of-way while protecting the integrity of the roadway network and city-owned infrastructure. This ordinance adds or modifies language to the municipal code to address various construction-related provisions and streamlines the licensing provisions.

The City’s Community Development Department manages the licensing of building contractors. Currently there are 14 license categories and over 3400 active licenses. This ordinance simplifies the licensing framework.

The City was approached by Kyle and Erin Ballew for a proposed retail development, DOP’s Sweet Spot, at the southwest corner of 38th Avenue and Johnson Street. The 29,810 square foot parcel is owned by the City of Wheat Ridge and was rezoned to Planned Commercial Development in 2008. Permitted uses on the subject property include any land use allowed in the City’s Restricted Commercial zone district. This proposed retail use would be a permitted use. Only 25,378 square feet of the parcel would be sold and the remaining 4,432 would be retained by the City for regional drainage. Section 16.5 of the City Charter states that “The City shall not sell or dispose of municipally owned buildings or real property for a public purpose, without first obtaining the approval, by ordinance, of three-fourths of the entire council.”

The applicant is requesting to modify the underlying zoning for certain areas of Clear Creek Crossing to refine allowed uses, setbacks, street, plaza, and multi-modal requirements. The intent of these changes is to relocate the main restaurant and entertainment district to the western edge of the site and to create a premiere pedestrian corridor to connect users from W. 40th Avenue.

In 2023, the Colorado General Assembly approved the Colorado Natural Medicine Act, creating a regulatory structure for natural medicines and the operation of licensed healing centers. Under the Act, the city may regulate the time, place and manner of healing centers licensed by the state, but the City may not prohibit the uses entirely. This ordinance allows healing centers in the City’s commercial, industrial, and mixed-use zone districts in a manner similar to medical offices. The ordinance also memorializes the state-enacted separation from schools and daycares.

Applewood RV Resort, LLC is requesting approval of an amendment to the Prospect Park Place ODP at property located at 11600 W. 44th Avenue. The purpose of the request is to amend the existing zoning to expand RV camping uses onto Lot 1, located on the northernmost portion of the site.

During the 2024 Neighborhood Traffic Management Program (NTMP), four roadway segments met the criteria to receive traffic calming based on the program’s eligibility requirements. These four projects will be constructed in 2025.

The 2E fund, established to separate and track revenues and expenditures commensurate with the 2017 sales tax bond issuance, has a remaining balance of approximately $12.6 million. In discussions with Council prior to the 2J bond issuance, it was agreed that $7.4 million would be used to pay down the 2017 bonds and approximately $5.2 million would be transferred to the CIP Fund to defray remaining costs of the Improve Wadsworth project. This resolution authorizes the necessary supplemental appropriations to defease the remaining debt service on the 2017 bonds, complete the transfer to the CIP Fund and close the 2E Fund.

“Because of the significant mobility of today’s traffic and the influx of motorists from many areas, every driver has a right to expect the rules governing the movement of vehicles and pedestrians on streets and highways are clearly defined and reasonably uniform throughout the state and the nation. The General Assembly of the State of Colorado has recognized that conflicts between the state’s traffic laws, and municipal traffic ordinances lead to inconsistencies in the movement of traffic and has strengthened the requirements for uniformity of traffic regulations.” (Model Traffic Code for Colorado 2024-Colorado Department of Transportation) The City of Wheat Ridge is bound by the laws and guidance of the State of Colorado and as such, we are required to periodically review the City of Wheat Ridge Municipal Traffic Code to ensure conformance with the state mandate as a subservient or secondary traffic management plan to the State of Colorado Traffic Ordinances. The Wheat Ridge Police Department periodically reviews the City of Wheat Ridge Municipal Code to align with state traffic code changes and ensure consistency across all Colorado roads. The newest version of the Colorado Model Traffic Code was adopted and installed in 2024. The updated Model Traffic Code re-enforces and provides additional guidance and resources to serve more comprehensively those who use the roads in Colorado as well as those who utilize the roads within Wheat Ridge. The newest guidance, changes, and updates along with the addition of new technology and resources will allow Wheat Ridge employees (Police and Courts) to address emerging trends and driving behaviors that have become problematic within Wheat Ridge. The addition of new vehicle technology, cultural attitudes, and intentions was the impetus of many of the changes in the 2024 Model Traffic Code. The ability to address more comprehensively those driving behaviors and trends allows Wheat Ridge employees the opportunity to ensure our community safety and advance the city’s core values with persons using the roads within the Wheat Ridge community.

The Colorado General Assembly has recently enacted Senate Bill 23-290, codified at CRS 44- 50-101, creating a regulatory structure for the operation of licensed facilities for the supervised use of natural medicines by individuals age 21 and over. The Act creates a state agency responsible for licensing and registration of facilities and related businesses that provide for the use, cultivation, manufacture, and testing of these substances. Further, the state licensing authority will not issue licenses for any building which is within 1000 feet of a childcare center, preschool, elementary, middle, junior high school, or residential childcare facility. While the state statute does not require local governments to enact any local regulations of natural medicine businesses, the City has the authority to do so, and several municipalities across the state have chosen to enact various forms of regulation, while other communities have decided not to. Under the Act, the City may regulate the time, place and manner of the operation of healing centers licensed by the state but may not prohibit the uses entirely. The City may not prohibit licensed health care facilities or individuals from providing natural medicine services within the City, nor may it prohibit the transportation of natural medicine on public roads within the City. Finally, according to the Act, the City may not impose regulations that are “unreasonable or in conflict with the [Act].”

Sections 10.7 and 10.9 of the Wheat Ridge City Charter require that a public hearing on the proposed budget be conducted before its final adoption and that the budget be adopted by resolution on or before the final day (December 15, 2024) established by state statute for the certification of the next year’s tax levy to the county. The proposed 2025 budget includes the following: • A General Fund budget in the amount of $48,765,853 • An unrestricted fund balance of $8,312,000 or 17% of expenditures plus 3% emergency reserves ($1,462,976) • Proposed CIP Fund in the amount of $12,443,000 • Proposed Renewal Wheat Ridge Bonds Project Fund in the amount of $13,560,000 • Proposed 2J Fund in the total amount of $12,829,361 • Special Revenue Funds in the amount of $8,027,596 • Proposed budget (all funds) in the amount of $95,625,810 Additionally, this resolution establishes the 2J Next Chapter Bond Fund and authorizes spending in 2024; authorizes the General Fund portion of short-term rental lodgers’ tax to remain in the General Fund to be used for general operating expenditures in 2024 and 2025; and reduces the Renewal Wheat Ridge Bond Fund 2024 budget so that the budgeted ending fund balance is $0.00.

Chapter 21 of the city’s municipal code provides for construction and other work activities within or upon the public right-of-way while protecting the integrity of the roadway network and city-owned infrastructure. This ordinance adds or modifies language to the municipal code to address various construction-related provisions and streamlines the licensing provisions.

The City’s Community Development Department manages the licensing of building contractors. Currently there are 14 license categories and over 3400 active licenses. This ordinance simplifies the licensing framework.

The City was approached by Kyle and Erin Ballew for a proposed retail development, DOP’s Sweet Spot, at the southwest corner of 38th Avenue and Johnson Street. The 29,810 square foot parcel is owned by the City of Wheat Ridge and was rezoned to Planned Commercial Development in 2008. Permitted uses on the subject property include any land use allowed in the City’s Restricted Commercial zone district. This proposed retail use would be a permitted use. Only 25,378 square feet of the parcel would be sold and the remaining 4,432 would be retained by the City for regional drainage. Section 16.5 of the City Charter states that “The City shall not sell or dispose of municipally owned buildings or real property for a public purpose, without first obtaining the approval, by ordinance, of three-fourths of the entire council.”

This resolution authorizes the levying of property taxes for the 2024 fiscal year to help defray the cost of government in 2025.

The 2015 Parks and Recreation Master Plan was adopted by City Council on April 27, 2015. The Plan designates certain parcels in the City as park land. In 2008, City Council approved an ordinance rezoning the property which is now Discovery Park. The Outline Development Plan included a condition that up to 36,000 square feet of the northern portion of the site may be used for commercial uses. However, the park land designation on this portion of the site was not removed. This resolution will amend the 2015 Parks and Recreation Master Plan to remove the park land designation from this remanent parcel.

Case No. WZ-24-07 is an application for approval of an amendment to Phase II of the Prospect Park Place ODP for property located at 11600 W. 44th Avenue. The purpose of the request is to amend the existing ODP to allow RV camping uses on Lot 1, Phase II, located on the northernmost portion of the site.

Request for approval of an amendment to the underlying zoning to revise uses and standards impacting Planning Areas 3 and 6 at Clear Creek Crossing.