Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Input topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents press Greeley council on Cascadia/Catalyst development, homelessness and neighborhood speeding
Summary
During citizen input residents criticized the Cascadia/Catalyst project process and petition efforts, urged a binding community benefit agreement, raised asbestos and demolition concerns, asked for more services and shelter funding, and requested traffic calming measures for neighborhood safety.
Greeley — Dozens of residents used the citizen‑input portion of the Oct. 7 meeting to press council on a range of local concerns, with several focusing on the Cascadia/Catalyst development, homelessness services and neighborhood traffic safety.
Several speakers criticized the petition campaign that would force changes to zoning or project approvals. Tom Donkel told council petitioners were using a “bait‑and‑switch” technique and warned that killing the catalyst project would saddle the city with debt. Tom Shaner, calling the project a $1,100,000,000 proposal, said that changing the project to an ordinance instead of a ballot measure denied voters a direct say.
Community members also raised labor‑and‑community protections they want tied to large projects. Mary Metzger urged the council to pursue a binding community benefit agreement that would require local hiring, enforceable affordability, environmental accountability and downtown investment. Metzger said residents who previously asked for transparency on the project felt “brushed aside.”
Other commenters flagged specific safety and regulatory concerns. Dan and Alisa Kunkel and neighbors described repeated speeding through their blocks and asked for speed cushions or enforcement. Ken Spady alleged failures in asbestos handling during demolition and pressed for an investigation of the city’s building department; he said he had submitted state and federal asbestos laws to council. Business owners and patrons urged the city to consider construction impacts on downtown merchants and shorten timelines for disruptive work.
Several residents and speakers supported continued investment in homelessness services. Peggy Sue Squires and other commenters praised outreach teams and urged continuation of the proposed shelter; budget staff later confirmed the shelter’s projected 2026 operating cost of approximately $1.8 million with the city paying roughly 70 percent.
Councilmembers listened, occasionally responding with process notes or invitations to meet staff; no formal actions were taken during citizen input other than acknowledgments and directions for staff follow‑up.
What happens next: Council members asked staff to follow up on traffic enforcement options, construction impacts on downtown businesses, and the asbestos concerns raised — and to continue public outreach about the Cascadia/Catalyst proposal.
