At a glance: Wheat Ridge City Council votes and calendar items from Jan. 13, 2025 meeting

The Wheat Ridge City Council completed a full agenda of routine and policy actions on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. Key outcomes in brief:

Votes at a glance

- Consent agenda (items 1A–1H): Approved. Items included multiple purchase encumbrances and service agreements: WEX fuel card encumbrance ($167,700), bulk fuel purchase from Synergy Petroleum ($124,900), salt materials purchase (not to exceed $135,000), custom oil service contract (not to exceed $419,350 plus $12,000 contingency), TerraCare right‑of‑way maintenance contract amendment (3% increase), second amendment to the Jefferson County Regional Bridal Laboratory IGA, payment for CIRSA property and casualty premium ($581,329), and CEBT medical/dental/benefits billing (not to exceed $2,517,979). Motion to approve was moved and seconded; clerk recorded the motion carries.

- Council Bill 26‑2024 (Clear Creek Crossing PMUD amendment): Approved on second reading (see separate article). Mover: Mayor Pro Tem Corey Stites; second: Councilor Hoppe. Vote: unanimous.

- Council Bill 27‑2024 (Natural Medicine / healing centers zoning): Approved on second reading, ordinance will take effect immediately. Mover: Councilor Snell; second: Councilor Hoppe. Vote: unanimous.

- Council Bill 28‑2024 (Prospect Park ODP amendment — Applewood RV Resort): Approved on second reading. Mover: Councilor Larson; second: Councilor Dozeman. Vote: unanimous.

- Council Bill 1‑2025 (Mixed Use Lutheran Legacy Campus zone district): Passed on first reading to set public hearing. Council set the public hearing for Monday, Jan. 27, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. (virtual and in chambers); motion carried.

- Council Bill 02‑2025 (Boards and commissions membership residency clarity): Passed on first reading to set public hearing for Jan. 27, 2025 at 6:30 p.m.; motion carried. The draft clarifies that board/commission members who move between council districts may finish their appointed term representing the district that appointed them.

- Council Bill 03‑2025 (Adopt 2024 Model Traffic Code for Colorado): Passed on first reading to set public hearing for Jan. 27, 2025 at 6:30 p.m.; motion carried.

- Council Bill 04‑2025 (Include police recruits in police pension plan): Passed on first reading to set public hearing for Jan. 27, 2025 at 6:30 p.m.; motion carried. The ordinance would permit police recruits to enroll directly in the police pension plan instead of a civilian plan during academy training.

- Election: Council elected Corey Stites as Mayor Pro Tem for 2025 (voice nominations; motion and second; unanimous vote).

- Resolution 03‑2025 (Official posting location and web page for notices): Adopted. The city designated the municipal building main entrance display cabinet and the city’s official website for public notices in 2025; motion carried.

- Resolution 04‑2025 (Climate emergency acknowledgement): Adopted. The resolution acknowledges the climate emergency and reaffirms the city’s commitment to actions that reduce Wheat Ridge’s contribution to climate change. Council approved the resolution 6‑2 after debate on wording and policy scope.

- Resolution 05‑2025 (Wheatridge Prosperity Plan): Adopted. Council approved the city’s new economic development strategy (the Wheatridge Prosperity Plan), a data‑driven plan organized around corridors/nodes, jobs/industrial policy, attainability/quality of life and business support; motion carried unanimously.

What the votes mean next - For ordinance adoptions that amend ODPs or zoning (Clear Creek Crossing and Prospect Park): these are step‑one changes; specific development plans (SDPs) for individual buildings/site improvements must still be submitted and reviewed for consistency with the amended ODP/design pattern book. - For first‑reading ordinances (Lutheran Legacy Campus zone, boards/commissions language, traffic code, police pension recruits): the items were set for public hearing on Jan. 27, 2025 and remain subject to public comment and final council action. - For the climate emergency resolution and the Wheatridge Prosperity Plan: both were adopted as council resolutions and will guide staff implementation and future policy work; staff and relevant boards are expected to follow up on implementation steps recommended by those documents.

Meeting context and next steps The meeting included public comment and questions on several items (e.g., RV park expansion, Clear Creek Crossing design). Several items forwarded to Jan. 27 require additional hearings or SDP‑level engineering review. Staff indicated coordination with external agencies and RTD will continue on projects that require transit or utility accommodations.

If you follow council business closely: the next regular meeting with several public hearings is Monday, Jan. 27, 2025 at 6:30 p.m.