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Planning Commission
City Council – Study Session
Mon, May 19, 2025 at 6:30pm
3 Agenda Items
Virtual or In-Person
Item No. 1 - Residential Waste Update
• Open for comment
City Council directed staff to conduct further research on several items following the November 18, 2024, study session on the Residential Waste Engagement project. This item provides an update on progress made to date and outlines areas where Staff is seeking Council input, including budget considerations for the potential expansion of some waste services.
Item No. 2 - 2J Project Fund List
• Open for comment
Upon approval of the 2J tax extension, also referred to as the Next Chapter, staff developed a list of potential projects within each of the three major themes of corridors, sidewalks & bikeways, and drainage. This list exceeds $121 million. Staff has subsequently refined the list to be in line with the $75M bond capacity. The results of this effort are included in the memo and supporting materials.
Item No. 3 - Drone Regulations
• Open for comment
As drones become more prevalent in society, for both commercial and private use, the adoption of an ordinance to assist in governing the use of drones within the Wheat Ridge City limits may be necessary to ensure those flying drones will honor the city’s values, culture and peace. Currently, the City depends primarily on the FAA rules as it pertains to the appropriate operation of drones. Staff are seeking council guidance regarding the potential adoption of an ordinance governing the use of drones within the City and will present information, options and examples for the discussion.
Past Meetings
City Council – City Council Meeting
Mon, May 12, 2025 at 6:30pm
16 Agenda Items
Virtual and In-Person
Publics' Right to Speak
1
Item No. 1a - Contract Essential Contractors Inc.
Approved
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.
Item No. 1b - MOTION - payment to Bank of Oklahoma
Approved
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.
Item No. 1c - MOTION - contract Brannan Sand & Gravel
Approved
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.
Item No. 1d - RESO - IGA Regional Criminal Justice Records
Approved
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.
Item No. 1e - RESO - Law Enforcement Recruit Training
Approved
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.
Item No. 1f - RESO - Localworks Lease
Approved
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.
Item No. 2 - ORD - Urban Renewal Authority
Approved
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.
Item No. 3 - ORD - Accessory Dwelling Units
Approved
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.
1
Item No. 4 - ORD - Residential Occupancy Limits
Approved
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.
Item No. 5 - ORD - Freestanding Emergency Rooms
Approved
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.
Item No. 6 - MOTION - Fruitdale School Lofts
Approved
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.
Item No. 7 - Stormwater Master Plan
Approved
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.
Item No. 8 - RESO - Procurement Policy & Guidelines
Approved
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.
Item No. 9 - RESO - amend CDOT contract for Improve Wads
Approved
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.
Item No. 10 - RESO - IGA Jeffco WR School Resource Officer
Approved
The Wheat Ridge Police Department and the Jefferson County R-1 School District have worked together for several years and participated in the School Resource Officer Program. The primary mission of the School Resource Officer Program is to provide formal instruction, informal consultation and mediation, enforcement, and problem solving for the school communities. A formal, written, intergovernmental agreement between the City and the District concerning School Resource Officers has been in place for over ten (10) years. The District has requested the intergovernmental agreement be reviewed and re-accomplished. As part of the Police Department’s commitment to national accreditation, an intergovernmental agreement between the District and the City is required by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies. The attached intergovernmental agreement is similar to formal written agreements established between other national accredited police departments and public-school districts.
City Council – Study Session
Mon, May 5, 2025 at 6:30pm
3 Agenda Items
Virtual and In-Person
Item No. 1 - MEMO - UC Denver Presentation
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.
Item No. 2 - MEMO - Ward Multi-Modal Ped Bridge & Trail
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.
1
Item No. 3 - MEMO - Clerk/Treasurer Charter Change
Chapter III of the City’s Charter establishes that there shall be an elected City Clerk (sec. 3.7-3.8) and an elected City Treasurer (sec 3.9-3.10). Qualifications for each role match that of the members of Mayor and Council: • Registered voter • 18 years of age • Resident of the City of Wheat Ridge for at least one-year preceding election day • Maintain residency throughout the term of office • May not be a candidate for more than one office at the same election or hold two municipal offices simultaneously In recent years, Council has shown interest in proposing a charter amendment to the Wheat Ridge electorate that would eliminate the elected roles of Clerk and Treasurer. With the tragic passing of Clerk Steve Kirkpatrick and the resulting vacancy, members of Council requested a timely discussion on the matter.
City Council – City Council Meeting
Mon, Apr 28, 2025 at 6:30pm
9 Agenda Items
Virtual And In-Person
Public's Right to Speak
Item No. 1 - ORD - Lutheran Legacy Campus Zoning
Pending
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.
10
Item No. 2 - ORD - Amend WR Code of Laws, Urban Renewal Auth
Pending
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.
Item No. 3 - ORD - Amend WR Laws - Freestanding EDs
Pending
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.
Item No. 4 - ORD - amend WR Laws, Accessory Dwellings
Pending
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.
Item No. 5 -ORD - amend WR Laws, Occupancy Limits
Pending
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.
Item No. 6 - RESO - oppose HB 25-1220
Pending
The Legislative Committee recommends that the City Council adopt a resolution in opposition of HB25-1220 Regulation of Medical Nutrition Therapy.
Item No. 7 - RESO - Oppose HB25-1300
Pending
The Legislative Committee recommends that the City Council adopt a resolution in opposition of HB25-1300 Workers’ Compensation Benefits Proof of Entitlement.
Item No. 8 - RESO - Support SB25-030
Pending
The Legislative Committee recommends that the City Council adopt a resolution in support of SB25-030 Increase Transportation Mode Choice Reduce Emissions.
City Council – Study Session
Mon, Apr 21, 2025 at 6:30pm
3 Agenda Items
Virtual and In-Person
Item No. 1 - MEMO - Jeffco EDC Update
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.
Item No. 2 - MEMO - Procurement Policy Update
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.
Item No. 3 - MEMO - City Council Retreat Recap
On January 31 and February 1, 2025, City Council held a retreat to discuss their aspirations for Wheat Ridge over the next 15 years. At the retreat, Council worked on creating new vision and mission statements and agreed that Councilors Hoppe and Hultin would propose a final version of each for consideration. Included with this report are the final draft statements, ideals to support and operationalize the vision and mission, and priorities for 2025 and 2026 that draw from the existing workplan. While staff is focused on a lengthily immediate workplan, city management recommends Council move forward with a final version of the vision and mission and allow the next Council to finalize specific goals and priorities for 2027 and beyond.
City Council – City Council Meeting
Mon, Apr 14, 2025 at 6:30pm
7 Agenda Items
Virtual and In-Person
Public's Right to Speak
Item No. 1a - RESO - Byrne Memorial Justice Grant
Approved
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.
Item No. 1b - RESO - budget supplement Panorama Park Tennis
Approved
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.
Item No. 1c - RESO - budget supplement Tabor Lake Trail
Approved
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.
Item No. 2 - ORD - Lutheran Legacy Campus zoning
Continued
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
Item No. 3 - RESO - MOU Jeffco Community Crisis
Approved
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.
Item No. 4 - RESO - Jeffco Open Space Conservation
Approved
Jefferson County Open Space’s Land Conservation Partnership Program allows communities within the County to apply for funding in the amount of up to 50% of the acquisition cost of parcels provided they become public parks, open spaces, trail corridors, or greenways/greenbelts. A City Council Resolution of Support is required as part of the application. Staff would like to apply for this funding in order to acquire property at 4150/4152 Kipling Street.
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