The Westminster City Council voted 5-2 on Oct. 13 to pass on first reading a change to the Westminster Municipal Code that clarifies the city manager's authority to adopt regulations governing access to and use of city-owned or -operated property, and provides enforcement authority to Westminster Park Rangers.

Council Bill 35 would add a new subsection to Section 1-12-2 of the Westminster Municipal Code and amend enforcement language in Chapter 3. During the meeting City Attorney Dave Frankel said the ordinance extends the existing parks-and-open-space model to all city-owned properties so the city manager can establish consistent regulations and a consistent response model across properties.

Frankel described the current parks approach as a "continuum of compassion," where navigators offer services and park rangers support that work; trespass and criminal enforcement occur only after services are refused and a trespass order is ignored. He told council the proposed code change would allow the same model to be applied to non-park city properties while allowing the city manager to tailor rules for sensitive facilities, such as fenced water-treatment plants, which could prompt a more immediate trespass response for safety reasons.

Supporters on council said the change is intended to create consistent, citywide rules and not to immediately expand enforcement resources. City Manager Andrews and staff told council they were not seeking additional Park Ranger staffing for the ordinance's implementation and do not anticipate substantial enforcement activity beyond current practice.

Opponents, including Councilor Hot, argued the ordinance risks criminalizing homelessness in practice because the city currently lacks shelter capacity and other placement options. In public comment, Alan Farb and other speakers also raised concerns that the ordinance could result in additional criminal citations for people experiencing homelessness and asked the council for detailed cost estimates and staffing implications. Several councilors asked staff to clarify guardrails and noted that existing municipal code provisions would take precedence over any broader manager authority.

The bill passed first reading with Councilors Azadi and Hot recorded as No; Councilors who supported the bill said they expect staff to return with implementing regulations and clarified that the ordinance does not change existing specific ordinances such as the city's median-safety rules.

Council directed staff to bring operational details back when the ordinance returns for further consideration, and to follow the city's continuum-of-compassion policy in enforcement and outreach.