Council approves bond measures, business-license review, Fair Housing resolution and FEMA-backed generator purchases; advances equipment financing

Westminster City Council took multiple formal actions April 8, approving bond and ordinance items and advancing several funding and procurement actions.

Key outcomes (votes at a glance): - General Bond Ordinance 05082025-01: Council approved second reading to borrow against hospitality-tax revenue to complete a project with Horton. City staff said this is the second of two readings required for bond issuance. - First Supplemental Ordinance 04082025-02: Approved; bond counsel added signing flexibility to allow either the mayor or the city administrator to sign documents alone when needed for timing and administrative convenience. - Ordinance (first reading) 2025-04-28-01: The council approved first reading of a financing ordinance to secure equipment and vehicle purchases, including sanitation vehicles and a pickup to support first response, to lock in current prices amid concerns about tariff-driven cost increases; staff said the overall dollar change from the workshop estimate was $1,400 and legal fees are a not-to-exceed estimate. - Business-license ordinance 05132025-02 (annual review): Council conducted the statutorily required annual review of the business license ordinance and moved it forward (no rate or NAICS-code changes were proposed). - Resolution 0408202501 (Fair Housing Month): Council adopted a resolution designating April as Fair Housing Month. - Change order/contract amendment with Paul Davis Solutions (Davis Power Solutions): Council authorized a change order to purchase backup generators for City Hall and the Highway 76 pump station and another city facility; the generators are FEMA-funded with a large federal cost share, but FEMA's reimbursement rate and budget amendment process will determine final reimbursements.

On the generator change order, City Administrator Mr. Bronson told the council the work originally included a fourth generator for the North Avenue clearwell that was removed after the clearwell was decommissioned; the revised package covers three stations and the low bid could not hold prior prices after a seven-month FEMA review. Bronson said the city requested FEMA budget-amendment approval and that FEMA typically cost-shares at 90% but that, while the amendment is pending, FEMA might reimburse up to 75% temporarily. Staff requested authorization not to exceed $208,300 to proceed with the three-generator package and to lock in current prices.

Several motions were recorded by roll call and carried; staff said follow-up steps include finalizing bond closing documents with bond counsel and completing procurement once budget amendments and financing are in place.