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Council approves encroachment changes, advances traffic‑code and court‑fee updates, and OKs first reading of local nondiscrimination ordinance
Summary
Council passed an encroachments ordinance on second reading, approved first readings of updates to the municipal traffic code and court costs, and voted to advance a local nondiscrimination ordinance to first reading with an outside investigator/hearing‑officer model and an 18‑month review requirement.
BROOMFIELD — The Broomfield City and County Council unanimously approved several code updates Monday night: second reading passed for an amended encroachments ordinance that sets clearer vegetation‑clearance standards and abatement rules, and first readings passed for adoption of the 2024 model traffic code, updates to municipal court costs, and a local nondiscrimination ordinance.
Code Compliance Manager Brandon Murray summarized proposed changes to Chapter 12.08 (encroachments), including consistent clearance heights (8 feet over sidewalks; 15 feet over streets), clearer site‑distance rules at intersections, and an administrative abatement fee of 15% when the city removes encroachments. Murray said most cases have historically been resolved at the notice‑of‑violation stage and that the proposed updates align with regional practices. The council approved Ordinance 2283 on second reading, 9–0.
Police and traffic staff recommended adoption of the Colorado 2024 model traffic code with local amendments to clarify automated enforcement, new provisions for low‑speed electric vehicles, and increased parking clearance at intersections from 20 to 30 feet to improve sight lines. Council approved Ordinance 2297 on first reading, 9–0, and asked staff to ensure language referencing crosswalks and intersections is consistent.
Municipal Court Judge Amy Bachman requested modest fee increases to bring the court’s costs closer to neighboring jurisdictions and to support mandated technology and public‑access upgrades. The council approved a first reading of the court fee changes that would raise general court costs from $20 to $40 and deferred‑judgment fees from $75 to $100; the judge noted courts keep discretion to waive fees for indigent litigants.
City Attorney Nancy Rogers presented a draft local nondiscrimination ordinance that closely follows state and federal protected‑class lists but adds veteran status and source of income in some contexts. The draft creates a third‑party investigator and hearing officer to process complaints (selected through RFQ), caps third‑party costs at $50,000 initially, and requires an 18‑month review to assess caseload and outcomes. Council approved the ordinance on first reading, 9–0.
The changes are now in various stages: the encroachment ordinance becomes effective following publication after second reading; the traffic code and court‑fee changes proceed through the required readings; and the nondiscrimination ordinance is scheduled for further public notice and implementation steps, including an RFQ for independent investigators and a hearing officer.
The council’s action reflects a mix of operational updates and policy changes designed to standardize safety and enforcement practices while adding a local mechanism to address discrimination complaints.
