Other things the Greeley City Council did Tuesday evening
By Trenton Sperry
Approved on first reading an ordinance to make illegal fireworks manufacture, sale, use or possession a misdemeanor offense, punishable by a $1,000 fine and potential imprisonment. According to city documents, the fire department will offer safety classes for anyone charged with a violation, and completion of that course will result in the fine being reduced to $500. The ordinance also includes a “social host” component, allowing additional misdemeanor charges against anyone who “knowingly provides private property for the possession and use of illegal fireworks,” according to city docs. Fireworks violations are currently misdemeanor infractions, which include a maximum fine of $500. A final reading and public hearing on the ordinance will take place June 7.
Approved a change order for the 12th Street Outfall Project – a 10-year, $81 million construction effort to improve flooding problems downtown – to increase a design services contract with Icon Engineering Inc. of Centennial by 53%, or about $300,000. City staff said the increased costs largely stem from new mandates coming from the Environmental Protection Agency on acceptable E. Coli levels in stormwaters that are discharged into rivers. The initial design for this project included a water quality facility to remove sediment and trash; the updated design will also remove salt, nutrients, hydrocarbons, viruses and bacteria, and other waste from the stormwater before it’s released in the Cache la Poudre River. The increase brings Icon’s contract with the city to about $865,000. City staff noted the initial contract estimate was a little low and that the full project funding approved by the city has enough room in its budget to accommodate the increase. The city expects 90% of the Phase 1 design will be complete in July, with construction expected to begin in September.
John Karner, Greeley’s director of finance, gave a general overview of the city’s finances and explained how the city approaches long-term financial planning. He noted Greeley’s sales tax rate of 7.01% puts it right in the middle of its peers; Loveland has a 6.7% sales tax and Fort Collins has a 7.55% sales tax. He also explained that Greeley has a backlog of capital improvement projects that haven’t yet been funded, which has nearly reached $370 million. The vast majority of that amount – 70% – are road projects. He also noted that the 0.16% Public Safety Tax initially authorized by voters in 2004 to build the 10th Street Police Station is at present being used to pay some public safety salaries after the tax was reauthorized in 2018, a fact he said “keeps us up at night.” Karner made clear the city is in a strong financial position, but he requested a meeting in the first quarter of 2023 to gather input from council on long-term financial goals. Council approved of that timeline.
Approved on first reading an ordinance to rezone about 23.5 acres immediately east of the Centerplace shopping center from Planned Unit Development - Centerplace to Mixed-Use High Intensity. Gilbert Commercial Land LLP of Castle Rock aims to build an apartment complex and a commercial area on the property, according to city documents. About 4 acres are considered ecologically significant, according to city docs, and would be preserved as open space. About 2 acres would become a private park for the apartment complex. The Planning Commission recommended approval of the rezone on a 4-0 vote during its April 26 meeting. Ripley Design Inc. of Fort Collins is listed as the land planner in the rezoning proposal, and Watermark Apartments of Indianapolis, Ind., is listed as the owner. Manhard Consulting of Greenwood Village is listed as the site engineer. A final reading and public hearing on the rezone will take place June 7.
Approved on first reading an ordinance to rezone about 15.5 acres formerly containing the demolished Hewlett-Packard building from Industrial Low Intensity to Residential High Density. The property immediately east of West Ridge Academy would be used for an apartment complex built by Lasalle Investors LLC of Greeley, according to city documents. The rezone drew one statement of opposition from a homeowner east of the property who said his daughter was hit by a truck when she crossed a street in the area. He expressed concern about additional traffic and decreased home values from the construction of an apartment complex. The rezone received multiple statements of support, however, including from Ken Dyer, chairman of West Ridge’s school board. The Planning Commission recommended approval of the rezone on a 4-0 vote during its April 26 meeting. A final reading and public hearing before council will take place June 7.
Ward II Councilwoman Deb DeBoutez requested that city staff compile a list of current sustainability efforts by the city, as well as a list of potential new efforts the city could take on. Ward IV Councilman Dale Hall said a similar list has been compiled in the past, and he recommended that list be revisited and updated. The full council lent its support.
Approved on first reading an ordinance authorizing the sale of the 139-acre, city-owned Balmer Farm in Weld County. The city purchased the property and two other farms in 2016, along with some associated water company stocks. The city bought the Balmer Farm for $4,890 per acre, and a sale price has been negotiated at $6,100 per acre, or $850,000. The water rights are not part of the sale. The farm will be sold to LTS Performance Horses LLC, a company formed in July 2021 by Dakota Rathbun of Eaton, according to a NoCo Optimist review of Colorado Secretary of State records. The Water and Sewer Board approved the sale at its April 20 meeting. The sale will come before council for a final reading and public hearing June 7.
Mayor John Gates proclaimed May 2022 as Mental Health Month in Greeley. Following the reading of the proclamation, Larry Pottorff, CEO of North Range Behavioral Health, announced he’s retiring after 39 years with the business. Pottorff, a licensed clinical social worker, joined North Range in 1983 and became CEO in 2010. North Range is conducting a national search for his replacement.
Appointed Regina Holzmeister and Jennifer Nicolae to the Human Relations Commission. Appointed Sharon Wright to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. Appointed James Freville to the Stormwater Board.