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Wheat Ridge council approves consent items, ballot question referral, property sales, art contract, audits and bike‑lane contract in Aug. 25 meeting
Summary
At its Aug. 25 meeting the Wheat Ridge City Council approved a consent package and a series of ordinances and motions including a charter referral to remove elected clerk and treasurer from the ballot, two property sales, acceptance of the 2024 audit, a $240,000 public‑art contract, and budget authority for a $1.26 million bike‑lane construction.
Wheat Ridge City Council on Aug. 25 approved a series of consent items and individual measures. Most votes were unanimous. Key actions included: a set of consent agenda approvals, referral of a charter amendment to the November ballot to eliminate elected clerk and treasurer, approval to sell two city‑owned parcels, acceptance of the city’s 2024 audited financial statements, award of a public art contract for the Youngfield beautification project, and budget authority to contract construction of bike lanes on 30th Second Avenue.
Votes at a glance (outcomes and key details):
- Consent agenda (Items 1a–1d): approved unanimously. Included: (1a) Resolution 39‑2025, city support for an application to the Jefferson County Open Space Trails Partnership Program to fund up to 50% of mill/overlay work at Anderson and Prospect Parks; (1b) resolution to call the Nov. 4, 2025 municipal election to refer a Home Rule Charter amendment to the ballot; (1c) resolution approving a loan agreement with Renewal Wheat Ridge in the amount of $1,200,000 to assist with acquisition of 4593 Parfette Street (purchase contract price $1,100,000) for expansion of public works and parks operations; (1d) authorization to pay American West Construction LLC $332,855 for emergency stormwater line repair at 30 Ninth Avenue and Whitecourt.
- Council Bill 15‑2025 (charter amendment referral): approved unanimously. The ordinance refers to the November 4, 2025 ballot a question to eliminate the elected offices of city clerk and city treasurer per sections 3.7–3.10 of the charter; if approved by voters it would amend the charter to make those positions appointed.
- Council Bill 16‑2025 (Town Center Park sale, 4084 Wadsworth Blvd): approved unanimously. Council noted Jefferson County Open Space had relocated a reverter and the green on 30 Eighth Avenue functions as parkland replacement; staff reported initial interest in the property though no contracts were in hand at the time of the hearing.
- Council Bill 17‑2025 (former Wilburto site sale, 4084 Wadsworth Blvd — ~0.5 acre): approved unanimously. Council noted the business on the site moved next door and that sale proceeds will return to the capital/open space budgets.
- Acceptance of 2024 financial statements (Haney & Company): approved unanimously. Haney issued unmodified (clean) opinions on the city financial statements and on the single audit of federal awards tied to Wadsworth Boulevard work. Auditors reported one finding that continued from prior work: certain year‑end accruals related to the Wheat Ridge Urban Renewal Authority (WRURA) were not recorded in the correct period; auditors characterized this as a URA close‑process issue and said it would be reviewed next year. There were no findings for major federal program compliance in the single audit.
- Youngfield public art contract: motion to award a mural contract to Pangburn, Williams & Davis for $240,000 (proposal titled "Wild Beauty") was approved unanimously. The selected team will paint murals on the Youngfield slope and underpass facing and will apply a UV protective coating as part of the contract. Cultural Council previously approved the concept on Aug. 13.
- Resolution 42‑2025 (30 Second Avenue Bike Lanes — budget amendment and contract): approved unanimously. Council approved a supplemental appropriation of $1,256,679 in the Renewal Wheat Ridge bond fund and authorized contract award to KECI Civil Inc.; KECI was the lowest responsive bidder (reported base amount $1,142,435.25 plus contingency) for mill/overlay, striping, signage and localized sidewalk/median work along the corridor. The project is funded primarily via a transportation improvement grant (RTD/DRCOG TIP) and will connect to Jefferson County bicycle facilities.
Council procedure and voting: most motions were seconded and the clerk polled the council; the record for multiple items shows unanimous "all ayes, no nays" results. The council indicated sale proceeds from the Wadsworth parcels will be returned to capital/open space funds or related renewal budgets as appropriate.
Why it matters: these actions move multiple capital projects and property‑management decisions forward (Wadsworth/Youngfield work, 30 Second Avenue bike lanes, stormwater repairs), set a November ballot question on charter offices that would change how two city positions are selected, and accept the independent audit that underpins financial transparency and federal compliance for large transportation grants.
Ending: Council expects project coordination (Youngfield construction and art installation, 30 Second Avenue construction) to take place in coming months; acceptance of the audit carries routine follow‑up to address the URA year‑end accruals finding during the next audit cycle.
