[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6588920,"mediaKeyId","5493449-4cdb77b4cf3d50c45a6a862c775ef522","parentId",5493449,"title","Council prioritizes public safety, public works and retail development for operating-budget follow-up","audioSeconds",2170,"startMs",9599000,"endMs",11769000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5493449-4cdb77b4cf3d50c45a6a862c775ef522&start=9599&end=11769","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5493449-4cdb77b4cf3d50c45a6a862c775ef522/thumbnail_9599000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6588920/Commerce-City/Adams-County/Colorado/Council-prioritizes-public-safety-public-works-and-retail-development-for-operating-budget-follow-up","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6588920-edaf8997ac058c5186f1f0e418b430ff/orig.mp4?Expires=1770946651&Signature=For618h~inFC2gULLli12zOyOyynAsfnworrwOSF6lqG2CyD7uu1cJyQ57yzafY9aoyQPXDhxH9sKK2cPX27h-iEfCm3z10bOZ3bqBtv2U7n2JqOBBcobOgtV0QN-o4ogTVQ2cUlbHHkKPTH~WPceI6gg848xY8s24F4nV6az0flGdu6scc2Hv-M5V1q7trb1EHt-oZVyWh8LoqxpBoh5xPJTnpH1kdZxxYv1pdVDZ2mZhjNvwxINcuA20qm8HeUXeHKO5QKyV6an3FWEI-kTvaT16xkHhrTiFyGZ-aGBhjCj-CzCmvYrR0RfwaKM1Hu~0MiuQ5SU0cY4qdpIKtKXg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Commerce CO","date","2025-07-29T04:18:59Z","article","Commerce City council members ranked operating-budget priorities during a study session, signaling staff to return to the Sept. 8 budget workshop with decision-package proposals focused first on public safety, public works and retail development.

City staff presented a framework for \recision packages
nd recommended focusing on core operations (the presentation referred to a 70/20/10 concept where about 70% of budget effort supports day-to-day services). Staff asked council to identify the top five operating priorities they would like the city to analyze further.

During a structured round of individual rankings, council consensus emerged around three top priorities most frequently named by members: public safety, public works (including street maintenance, storm-drain cleaning and a more proactive hot-shot crew for neighborhood cleanup), and retail development/economic development to recruit commercial services residents currently drive elsewhere to obtain.

Members also raised secondary priorities that staff should consider: redevelopment of Derby (downtown commercial area) and expanded parks and recreation programming and data collection. Several councilors suggested any analysis should include an impact-versus-effort assessment and clear costing (one-time pilot vs. ongoing operational commitments).

Staff said anything resulting from the priority list would require budget trade-offs: many items would be funded from the unassigned general fund balance or reallocated operating resources. The city manager noted some existing multi-year commitments (for example, a previously approved 7.5 million-dollar program) and warned that adding new recurring operations will require longer-term fiscal planning.

Council directed staff to place the compiled priority guidance on the council business calendar so that staff can return formal decision-package proposals at the September budget workshop; staff reiterated that the CIP decisions made previously are separate from these operating priorities.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Regular Study Session - July 28, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At a study session council members ranked operating-budget priorities; public safety and public works were top priorities across members, and staff will bring proposed decision-package options for the budget workshop.","taxTitle","Commerce City, Adams County, Colorado","taxId",4151,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6588925,"Council debates Northern Range growth, pushes staff to convene developer roundtables",5442,2073000,7515000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5493449-4cdb77b4cf3d50c45a6a862c775ef522&start=2073&end=7515","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5493449-4cdb77b4cf3d50c45a6a862c775ef522/thumbnail_2073000.jpg","/articles/6588925/Commerce-City/Adams-County/Colorado/Council-debates-Northern-Range-growth-pushes-staff-to-convene-developer-roundtables","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6588925-155af544f4c05e6c7b7fc19e32007cd7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770946651&Signature=he4d-yKf-FHMKwVInC0xnumcWvgO~rK8DR8h3ZLvZ2uHgC8QexufFbFFCjKXQlH5lMIY195RlvGjPPs~k7GEq5tx5Tg434EDua7DUPKP53e3ZvuLiDZPTQPwYK2g4UuBJktYBIvGNAedYcaU2IlHkZXz7bnuDTl-UAsx03YxbzTQFmThefNeGXsYAS1wzzIHbm0ayQqiEx0msrQaKg59ZGfEXMSuVvHY09vWwbx1chYcmjq~9kKlFhFMzHYdZ0HvODiDWnMKBUksxOfTCSWyHATbYrekZKg~AlNmjqGSUHsTtqy2au965uPIMeX2uir8fomaMUjgWnuPI~T71RAiqg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Commerce City councilors spent more than an hour discussing the future of growth in the city\u0006\u000especially development north of E-96
nd asked staff to organize additional sessions with landowners and developers to identify specific barriers and possible city actions.

City staff opened the session by summarizing February roundtable feedback from property owners and developers and asked the council whether it wanted to actively pursue growth in the Northern Range and, if so, what types of development the council wished to encourage.

Council members voiced a range of priorities: some said the city should pursue more commercial and entertainment uses to serve existing rooftops and attract patrons; others said the city should encourage mixed housing that includes multifamily, duplexes and options for multiple household types while preserving open space and design quality. Several councilors urged dedicating funds or incentives to bridge the \fustomer-base
nd \rensity\fhallenge developers cited.

Council members also identified technical and process barriers they have heard from developers: uncertainty about approval predictability, the cost of metro-district fees, lack of traffic or rooftops for some users, and inconsistent signage or comp-plan clarity on commercial corners. Staff said planners and economic development are already engaged with key property owners but that some land owners have chosen not to move forward for market or timing reasons.

After extended discussion, council members asked staff to organize additional developer/landowner roundtables that would:
- split the city\fonversation north/south when helpful;
- target specific \forners
nd sites (for example, 96 & Tower) for a deeper, pragmatic discussion; and
- use a more structured, facilitator-led format (fishbowl or small-table exercises) to surface the one or two concrete actions that would unblock proposed projects.

Staff said they would draft a session design and bring a proposal to the council
nd that they could present a recommended approach for a developer roundtable for council review at the Aug. 11 study session and return with tangible recommendations for action at the Sept. 8 budget workshop.

Councilors also urged including partner agencies in future discussions where relevant (for example, South Adams County Water & Sanitation for water capacity issues) and requested that staff use outcome-focused tools (impact vs. effort matrix, readiness scoring) when reporting back.

Several councilors noted operational steps the city is taking now, including review-timeline targets in Community Development (a \"3-2-1\" first-review goal), updates to the economic development incentive policy, and an upcoming master-transportation plan. Staff said the land development code modernization and an economic development incentive policy are on the multi-quarter work plan.

Council consensus: staff should proceed with planning facilitated roundtables and return with a written proposal and recommended dates; councilors and staff emphasized the need for mutual, two-way engagement between the city and property owners to improve predictability and accelerate desired projects.","Commerce City council members debated whether and how to accelerate development north of E-96, discussing housing types, retail, infrastructure and incentives; staff was asked to organize developer roundtables and return recommendations ahead of the September budget cycle.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6588930,"Commerce City receives clean 2024 audit; housing authority removed as component unit",913,269000,1182000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5493449-4cdb77b4cf3d50c45a6a862c775ef522&start=269&end=1182","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5493449-4cdb77b4cf3d50c45a6a862c775ef522/thumbnail_269000.jpg","/articles/6588930/Commerce-City/Adams-County/Colorado/Commerce-City-receives-clean-2024-audit-housing-authority-removed-as-component-unit","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6588930-7b46e9b35331492bfe4fe1dd8ab8d6d0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770946651&Signature=autxy07NVvTWWF~V-gJLxDUo12gIBpk0SA9mJsxrpQIhDuHipPrx-TkG17O7UHQGor~7TGshFNlxOHKwq6BR3hMZNVtiHMsFE8NYYBbaTAUFPSx-1BWyo9o1B0sKHae91zYTuzx354g2-r-8XH-oWko1FfAhmH6ivUY06rgerbIczO9rUAG4ixMXMBDirusGL-oOIwKwiUwDgs91oFe3CcvtYuBgym78g9~E5utcMRds2haZsxK3gB9RKMlc0VDILdK4CrurhQr7YaRuWMVK6gEXfccAGe7mdPjIZpAK8YQxyoKXKTCAAEFrccra79Vw20M4GbVLuezAgXqbPaj6JA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Commerce City officials received a clean, or unmodified, opinion on the city\u000financial statements for the year ended Dec. 31, 2024, the city\u000finance director said, and independent auditors reported no significant audit findings or disagreements with management.

The audit presentation by Plante Moran noted several positive trends in the city\u000financials and highlighted that the city\rid not receive any audit findings on financial statements or on federal grant compliance. Auditor Bill Birkey said the firm issued an unmodified opinion, commonly called a clean audit report.

The auditor and finance staff told the council the city\flosed 2024 with an increase in net position and a larger general-fund balance. The presentation said total net position rose in 2024 and that the general fund\u000fund balance was about $108 million at year-end, with roughly $56.2 million unassigned and available for appropriation.

Council members pressed for clarity about which funds hold capital project money; finance staff said capital projects are recorded in a major capital expenditures fund and pointed council to the statement for that fund in the annual comprehensive financial report.

Auditors also reported two new Governmental Accounting Standards Board pronouncements the city implemented in 2024: GASB Statement No. 100 (accounting changes and error corrections) and GASB Statement No. 101 (compensated absences). Plante Moran said those implementations did not cause material changes in the year.

The audit team reviewed federal grants under the single-audit rules and tested two major programs: the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (about $754,000 of spending in 2024) and the Highway Planning and Construction program (about $2.2 million in 2024). The single-audit opinions were unmodified and the auditors reported no federal compliance findings.

The auditors noted a reporting change: the Commerce City Housing Authority, historically presented as a component unit in the city's financial statements, no longer met the financial-accounting criteria to be included after changes in financing and agreements. Staff said the housing authority will continue to have its own annual audit but will not be rolled up into the city's financial statements unless the relationship or agreements change.

Council members asked staff to bring back discussion of a formal unassigned fund-balance policy. Finance staff said the city does not currently have a fixed policy on the minimum unassigned fund balance and that the council could consider setting a formal target (staff said informally they have discussed keeping the unassigned fund balance around $30 million as a floor).

City staff said hard copies of the 2024 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report will be printed and distributed; an accessible electronic version is linked in the council packet and will be posted on the new city website when it launches.

Council members thanked the finance team and the auditors for the work and said they wanted the reserve-target conversation added to a future agenda.","Auditors issued an unmodified opinion on Commerce City\u000financial statements for 2024, reporting increased net position and no federal single-audit findings; city staff and council discussed reserve policy and how the Commerce City Housing Authority no longer meets component-unit criteria.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council prioritizes public safety, public works and retail development for operating-budget follow-up

Council debates Northern Range growth, pushes staff to convene developer roundtables

Commerce City receives clean 2024 audit; housing authority removed as component unit