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Westminster council approves membership in Colorado Communities for Climate Action over one dissent
Summary
City Council voted 6-1 to join Colorado Communities for Climate Action (CC4CA) and support its policy statement. One councilor opposed using the $15,000 membership fee, saying the money should be spent planting trees locally; staff said funding was included in the 2025 budget and the organization offers policy and technical support.
Westminster City Council voted 6-1 on Feb. 10 to join Colorado Communities for Climate Action (CC4CA) and to support the organization's policy platform, authorizing payment of a $15,000 annual membership fee that was included in the adopted 2025 budget.
Why it matters: Joining CC4CA gives Westminster a formal seat in a coalition of municipalities that advocates for state and federal climate and related transportation policies. Supporters said the membership helps amplify the city's priorities at higher levels of government and provides technical briefings and collaborative resources that can be expensive to obtain independently.
The motion to adopt resolution number 3 was made by Mayor Pro Tem Nirmala and seconded by Councilor Hutton. Councilor Ireland cast the lone "no" vote; the motion passed on a 6-1 roll call.
Discussion: Bridget Tomlin, the city's sustainability administrator, told council that membership secures Westminster a representative seat on CC4CA's board and access to coordinated policy briefings and technical assistance. "Working collectively, we can have an outsized impact on how the state is promoting tree planting and other climate-related initiatives," Tomlin said.
Councilor Ireland said she preferred the $15,000 be spent directly on local tree planting rather than on membership fees. "Paying to be in some group is not making a difference," she said, urging staff to show how membership would translate into measurable local results.
Councilors who supported membership said the organization strengthens local capacity for climate action by consolidating policy monitoring and offering access to data and collaborative opportunities. Councilor DeMott said he left the group previously because he felt it produced limited tangible results and asked staff to provide regular reports on outcomes and value. Tomlin and other council supporters agreed to provide periodic updates.
Vote details: Motion to adopt resolution number 3 (authorize the city to join Colorado Communities for Climate Action and support CC4CA's policy statement). Mover: Mayor Pro Tem Nirmala. Second: Councilor Hutton. Vote: Yes'Carmelia; Yes'DeMott; Yes'Azadi; Yes'Haught; Yes'McNally; No'Ireland; Yes'Carmelia (final roll call recorded as 6 yes, 1 no). (Transcript recorded roll call names differently in order; tally recorded as 6-1.)
Next steps: Staff agreed to provide report-backs on CC4CA activities and to include updates in the sustainability work program, with a suggestion for a six-month review to show measurable outcomes tied to the membership fee.
