Wheat Ridge legislative committee seeks council consensus on 2025 agenda emphasizing local control and equity

Cole (staff) outlined the proposed 2025 legislative advocacy program prepared by the council's legislative committee. The program has four parts: a legislative agenda that sets positions, a legislative committee that reviews bills and recommends advocacy positions, advocacy position resolutions for council adoption, and lobbying consistent with adopted positions.

The draft legislative agenda contains 10 focus areas — home rule; community development; economic development; affordable housing; 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 said each focus area includes brief statements of the types of legislation the city would support or oppose.

Councilors who spoke praised the document’s clarity and readability and endorsed the committee’s plan for monitoring legislation during the session. Councilor Weaver, Councilor Olm and Councilor Hultin among others expressed support; several councilors noted this moves the city from ad hoc engagement toward a structured advocacy process. Councilor Larson said the committee intends to meet every two weeks during the legislative session to review bills and recommend actions.

By the end of the study session, councilors signaled consensus for staff to bring the legislative agenda forward for formal adoption at the February 10 council meeting. No formal vote was recorded at the study session; the item will return to the regular meeting for consideration.