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.

In order to implement the Lutheran Legacy Campus Master Plan, the city intends to legislatively rezone the former hospital campus to the newly-created Mixed Use –Lutheran Legacy Campus (MU-LLC) zone district.

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.

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.

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 Legislative Committee recommends that the City Council adopt a resolution in opposition of HB25-1220 Regulation of Medical Nutrition Therapy.

The Legislative Committee recommends that the City Council adopt a resolution in opposition of HB25-1300 Workers’ Compensation Benefits Proof of Entitlement.

The City is a member of the Jefferson County Economic Development Corporation (Jeffco EDC). Councilor Hoppe is Council’s liaison to the EDC and serves as the municipal representative on the board’s executive committee. Jansen Tidmore, President and CEO of the EDC, will provide an overview of the organization’s work including sectors and initiatives, and a recap of 2024 at the study session.

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 guidelines to provide increased clarity, improved procedures, increased thresholds to streamline the process, and additional information about legal and ethical requirements.

The item under consideration is to amend Chapter 26 of the Wheat Ridge Code of Laws to allow as a conditional use freestanding emergency room facilities in the MU-C (Mixed Use – Commercial) zone district.

This ordinance updates residential occupancy limits in the city code to reflect recent voter-approved updates to the City Charter, and updates to state law.

The Wheat Ridge Police Department applied for and was awarded a grant in the amount of $11,269 from the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant program for police officer laptop computers. A budget supplemental appropriation is required to amend the budget to accept these funds.

A contract was awarded to Colorado Designscapes, Inc. for the Panorama Park Tennis Courts project by City Council on February 10, 2025. This project was budgeted in the Open Space Fund in 2024; however, the funds were mistakenly not carried forward into the 2025 budget. This resolution will amend the 2025 Open Space Fund budget to fund this project as planned.

A contract was awarded to JOC Contracting, LLC for the Tabor Lake Trail project by City Council on February 10, 2025. This project was budgeted in the Open Space Fund in 2024; however, the funds were mistakenly not carried forward into the 2025 budget. This resolution will amend the 2025 Open Space Fund budget to fund this project as planned.

NOTICE: On Thursday, April 10, the city received a protest objecting to the rezoning of the Lutheran Legacy Campus. A zone change protest is a process created in the City Charter and detailed in the zoning code that gives adjacent property owners the right to protest a zone change. This kind of protest can impact the timing of the public hearing and the number of votes required by Council to approve a zone change. In this case, the public hearing date has been changed from Monday, April 14 to Monday, April 28. Per city code, this change occurs automatically based on the timing of when the protest was submitted. This means no public comment, presentation, discussion, or decision will take place on Monday, April 14. Public comment will be accepted on this item when it is reposted for the April 28 meeting. Links to learn more about zone change protests and how to participate in the April 28 hearing are available here: https://whatsupwheatridge.com/lutheran

The West Metro Fire District has initiated a Community Crisis Response Pilot Program to evaluate a regional team approach to address the rising need for mental health assistance in Jefferson County. The Pilot Program would pair a licensed mental health clinician with EMS personnel and only require police response when necessary. This Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) outlines the mission, purpose, and protocols of the Pilot Program.

Staff has completed the second Boards and Commissions Annual Report, highlighting the achievements of each public body through the 2024 calendar year, outlining anticipated activities for 2025, and providing information about current members. Staff liaisons and commission members will attend the April 7, 2025, Study Session to present their updates.

On October 25, 2021, City Council passed ordinance 1723, adding 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 the Council to review the implementation of the ordinance every 18 months. This report provides an update about the progress and current status of the hotel licensing program. There are no recommendations for code amendments at this time.

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.