Wheat Ridge Council Committee Seeks Consensus on 2025 Legislative Agenda

The Wheat Ridge City Council’s legislative committee presented a drafted 2025 legislative agenda and secured council consensus to bring the document back for formal adoption at the Feb. 10 council meeting. The committee said the agenda will guide advocacy, committee review and any lobbying during the state legislative session.

The agenda lays out 10 focus areas — including home rule, community and economic development, affordable housing and homelessness, public safety, infrastructure and transportation, sustainability, parks and recreation, and administrative services — and five cross‑cutting themes: community‑centered solutions, equity and accessibility, statewide collaboration, local control and opposing unfunded mandates.

Cole (last name not provided), a city staff member leading the presentation, told council that the agenda was developed in collaboration with city departments and that each focus area includes language on the types of legislation the city would support and oppose. “Tonight, we are asking for feedback from the city council on if there's anything that should be included in this legislative agenda that's not already there, if there's anything that should be removed, or if there's anything that should be amended,” Cole said, adding the committee seeks consensus to consider adoption on Feb. 10.

Council members praised the document and the new process. Councilor Weaver called the agenda “solid” and said it was clear and easy to read. Committee members described how the agenda will allow the city to prioritize where to engage during the session and to amend bills when that is in the city’s interest.

Councilors emphasized the need for regular committee meetings during the session to monitor bill language and act quickly when amendments are needed. The committee said it plans to meet every two weeks during the session and to present proposed advocacy resolutions to the full council for action when warranted.

Councilors also noted the agenda’s potential to improve coordination with state legislators by presenting a single, council‑endorsed set of priorities. Several members said this will help Wheat Ridge move from ad‑hoc responses to a more proactive posture at the Capitol.

The council gave consensus to move the draft legislative agenda forward for consideration at the Feb. 10 meeting. Staff and committee members said they will continue to refine the agenda and bring specific advocacy position resolutions to council as bills emerge during the session.