This study session agenda item is at the request of Councilmember Snell with consensus from City Council to discuss and consider actions items to gain an understanding of the needs in the Wheat Ridge community through the implementation of an equity audit.

As a part of its relationship with Lutheran Hospital (operated by Exempla at the old campus and currently by Intermountain Health at the new campus), the City has maintained agreements defining and quantifying the number of sales and use taxes paid to the City. These agreements have been amended multiple times to address changing conditions but have always established a total payment amount and schedule. This mechanism has benefited both parties by making the administration of sales and use tax as applicable to a complex operation administratively streamlined. The parties have again revised the Agreement to address both the provider's legal name change and, importantly, the relocation of the main hospital while retaining some hospital functions at the old campus.

This memo provides a briefing on the City’s Legislative Advocacy Program and presents a draft of the 2026 Legislative Agenda. Council is asked to provide feedback on the document and to consider reaching consensus to bring it forward for adoption at a future Council meeting.

A request for approval of a Specific Development Plan (SDP) to redevelop Lot 1 of the site for 28 RV parking spaces on a property zoned Planned Commercial Development (PCD) and located at 11600 West 44th Avenue.

In 2018, SCL Health purchased a 26-acre parcel at the Clear Creek Crossing (CCC) development to replace the existing, aging Lutheran Medical Center located on West 38th Avenue at the Lutheran Legacy Campus. The new state-of-the-art Lutheran Hospital opened in August 2024 at CCC, after a successful merger between Intermountain Health and SCL Health in 2022. The move of Lutheran Hospital to CCC provided the rare opportunity to reimagine the future of a 100-acre site in the heart of the City. This memorandum and study session will provide the newly elected Mayor and Council with a summary of prior actions and future steps for the redevelopment of this property.

During the August 25, 2025, City Council Meeting, City Council approved the Loan Agreement with Renewal Wheat Ridge in the amount of $1,200,000 for acquisition of property at 4593 Parfet Street for expansion and consolidation of the Public Works and Parks Operations Facilities. However, at that time, the Capital Improvement Program budget was not amended to accept and expend the loan. This budget supplemental will make possible for those actions to take place.

Councilmember Stites was elected as Mayor at the November 4, 2025, election. Mr. Stites resigned from his District III City Council seat on November 10, 2025. Wheat Ridge Charter Section 4.5 states that “within thirty (30) days after a vacancy occurs on the council, the remaining councilmembers shall choose by majority vote a duly qualified person from the proper district to fill such vacancy”. After advertising for the vacancy, six qualified applications were received from interested candidates for the vacant seat. Interviews will be conducted by City Council at the December 1st study session and appointment will be made at the December 8th regular meeting.

This memo follows up on the Council’s study session decision in May at which DC Kellogg, Commander Hunt, and Sergeant Bowman presented an overview of federal regulation of drones in relation to local control. The Council directed staff to move forward with case law research and possible options based on reasonableness and the degree to which any City regulations will be challenged. Drone technology over the last 15 years for civilian use has exponentially increased the number of unmanned ariel systems (UAS) flying over our municipalities. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) estimates annual drone sales at 7 million units in 2020. This has created environmental, safety, and privacy concerns for citizens, some of whom will look to the City for a solution. Many cities and towns across the country have attempted to regulate drone activity, with varying success. This memo briefly outlines the strategies that have been tried and the risks associated with different approaches. The overall guidance from Council at the May study session was to be conservative and risk-adverse in identifying elements of a drone ordinance for the City. I have created an outline of elements at the end of this memo which follows that direction.

There currently are no agenda items scheduled for the November 24, 2025 City Council meeting. To give City Council and staff more time to spend with family and friends during the Thanksgiving holiday week, staff recommends canceling the November 24, 2025, City Council meeting.

City Council approved an agreement with Altumint on October 28, 2024 to provide an automated speed camera program. This motion seeks Council’s approval to proceed with implementing additional enforcement areas. As legislatively required, each jurisdiction must approve identified speed corridors on state roadways. The proposed expansion targets the segments of CSH 121 (Wadsworth Boulevard) and CSH 391 (Kipling Street) between 32nd Avenue and 50th Avenue, which have recently received preliminary designation as speed corridors from both the Colorado Department of Transportation and the Colorado State Patrol, as required.

Utility markings are a necessary part of construction to protect underground infrastructure: however, they often remain long after projects are completed, leaving streets, sidewalks, and public spaces with unsightly, lingering paint marks. The City of Wheat Ridge currently lacks a clear requirement for their timely removal, resulting in aesthetic and maintenance concerns across the community. Establishing formal standards for utility marking removal will ensure that construction sites are properly restored, maintain the community’s visual appeal, and align Wheat Ridge with best practices in neighboring cities.

A request by Foothills Regional Housing for approval of a zone change from Agricultural-One (A-1) to Mixed Use Commercial – Transit Oriented Development (MUC-TOD) for a mixed-use affordable housing project at 10285 Ridge Road.

The City of Wheat Ridge previously adopted a Stormwater Master Plan to address a range of critical needs, including system enhancements to prevent flooding, maintenance of aging infrastructure, and various operational requirements. Recently, the City has also experienced multiple sinkholes attributed to stormwater pipe failures, underscoring the need for sustainable, long-term investment in the stormwater system. Raftelis Financial Consultants, Inc. (Raftelis) has conducted a comprehensive Stormwater Utility Feasibility Study to assess the City's needs and evaluate funding options. Raftelis will present the findings and recommendations of the study, including a proposed framework for implementing a stormwater utility fee that aligns with the City's infrastructure and environmental goals.

The Wheat Ridge Police Department is currently a party to an agreement with West Metro for Radio Specialist Services, dated July 22, 2019. Due to the retirement of the current part-time Radio Specialist, West Metro is transitioning the position into a full-time Radio Systems Administrator. With the transition of the role, an amendment must be made to the current agreement in place for adjusted role and salary requirements.

On October 6, 2025, the proposed 2026 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 2026 Budget Message is included which summarizes the various components of the proposed budget.

The Parks and Recreation Department is applying for a Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) Non-Motorized Trails grant for funding to install wayfinding and safety signage along the Clear Creek Trail and throughout the Wheat Ridge Greenbelt network. A resolution of support is required from City Council to apply for this grant.

Councilmembers Larson and Dozeman requested a study session to discuss muffler requirements and regulations in the City of Wheat Ridge. Although state law requires mufflers and prohibits certain modifications, enforcement at the municipal level is inconsistent and often limited. A local ordinance would allow Wheat Ridge law enforcement and code officials to issue citations for non-compliant exhaust systems, encourage corrective action, and deter future violations.

Hank Stites Park is located at the northwest corner of W. 29th Avenue and Newland Street. There are discrepancies at the north and west sides of the park where improvements do not align with the property boundary. In 2021, this was approved by city council to be resolved by a land exchange with the adjacent property owner, however that approval has lapsed. Approval of this ordinance will reauthorize that approval and allow the land swap to be completed. Because this exchange involves park land, Section 16.5 of the City Charter requires unanimous approval by the entire council.

Request for approval of a Specific Development Plan (SDP) for the construction of a bank with drive thru located SW of the W. 40th Ave. and I-70 intersection in the Clear Creek Crossing mixed use development.