Council gives consensus to draft November ballot question to eliminate elected clerk and treasurer

Wheat Ridge City Council members gave consensus at a July 21, 2025 study session to move forward with draft ballot language that would ask voters in November whether to eliminate the elected offices of city clerk and city treasurer and convert those duties to appointed staff functions.

City Attorney Dahl described the proposed ballot question as a consolidated amendment “to eliminate the elected positions of Clerk and Treasurer,” and said the draft ordinance would make conforming changes to charter sections that currently require election of those offices (sections cited in discussion: 3.7, 3.9 and the vacancies provision 3.11). Dahl told council the change would take effect depending on vacancy timing and that staff had drafted language reflecting those mechanics.

City Manager Goff and the city attorney said staff worked with municipal counsel to streamline the question and confirm how charter duties would be reassigned; Dahl noted that many charter provisions that assign duties to “the clerk” or “the treasurer” can remain in place while the manager designates an appointed city employee to perform the required functions (for example, assigning an employee to perform the clerk’s recordkeeping or the treasurer’s financial duties).

Council members expressed unanimous appreciation for current officeholders. Councilor Hoppe praised Treasurer Richard Miller’s performance and said the proposed change “is not something we’re doing because we don’t like Treasurer Miller ... This is definitely something that we’re doing so that we can make sure that we have the ability to hire professionals.” Several council members asked technical questions about how the charter and code would be updated and whether the manager could split clerk or treasurer duties among staff; Dahl answered that the manager could appoint staff to perform functions while maintaining a clear record that certain activities are being performed under the charter-defined clerk or treasurer roles.

No ordinance was introduced at the study session; council gave consensus to bring the draft ordinance forward for formal consideration. Staff said the amendment would appear as an ordinance for first reading at a future council meeting, and that the draft includes an effective-date mechanics provision (discussed in session) so duties are reassigned on the schedule the ordinance describes. Dahl said the charter’s vacancies provision (3.11) would require conforming deletion or amendment as part of the ordinance.

Because the study session recorded only council consensus rather than a formal recorded vote, staff will return with the ordinance if council wishes to proceed to a formal first-reading vote and, if adopted later, the measure would be placed on the November ballot per municipal and election timelines.

The council’s discussion included a short procedural timeline and multiple requests for technical clarifications; members asked staff to ensure the ballot language is clear to voters and to include conforming code amendments if the charter change is approved.

Council consensus to move the draft forward does not itself change the charter; a future ordinance and any subsequent voter approval would be required to effect the change.