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Community Services presents consolidated department budget; council hears updates on rental inspections, parking enforcement and fee reviews
Summary
The newly consolidated Community Services Department outlined staffing, division responsibilities and 2025 priorities including business outreach, housing programs, rental inspections at Atrium Apartments, expanded parking enforcement and a promised comprehensive review of fees tied to development and permitting.
Community Services Director Lindsey Kimball presented the consolidated department’s 2025 staffing and operating budget during the March 24 Westminster City Council study session, describing a merger of economic development, planning, building, community preservation, real estate and sustainability functions into one department.
Kimball said the consolidation preserves total authorized FTE but reallocated roles to better support cross‑department workflows and to elevate sustainability into administration reporting directly to the director. She emphasized the department’s focus on redevelopment, permitting efficiency, small business assistance and housing initiatives while holding line on new full‑time positions.
The presentation included several operational highlights: the department’s economic development team (led by Stephanie Trollor) manages recruitment, small business supports, CDBG and housing programs; planning (John McConnell) will continue implementation of the 2040 Comprehensive Plan and coordinate Front Range passenger rail updates; building (Chief Building Official Sam Everitt) is implementing the city’s adopted 2021 code and improving permitting counter service; and community preservation is responsible for rental housing inspections, code enforcement and parking management.
Kimball and staff gave a progress update on Atrium Apartments inspections. Code and rental‑housing staff conducted unit inspections earlier in March; the department told council that life‑safety issues identified during initial inspections have been cleared and reinspected in person, while non‑life‑safety items remain under corrective timelines.
On parking and enforcement, staff described the recent transfer of civil on‑street enforcement to the community preservation team to free police resources for criminal enforcement. Councilors pressed for proactive outreach to neighbors and for staff to consider whether the proposed eight‑foot walls, landscaping and other mitigations are appropriate for infill projects discussed elsewhere on the agenda.
Kimball said the department is initiating a review of all fees tied to planning, building and related services. She told council last year’s collections totaled about $7.1 million and noted many fees have not been updated for decades. The department will return with an analysis and proposals; Kimball stressed the review aims to align fees with staff time and actual review costs rather than to impose undue burdens on residents.
Council members asked about homelessness and budgeted resources for 2026; Kimball said staff will bring back more information and that the city’s April budget town hall and a May budget workshop are opportunities to shape 2026 priorities. Several councilors urged the city to continue partnering with neighboring jurisdictions where possible.
No formal council action was taken at the study session; council requested follow‑up information on the fee review, rental inspection results and potential budget impacts tied to homelessness response for the 2026 budget process.
