City Council - Regular Meeting

Good evening. I'd like to call to order our city council meeting for Tuesday, 04/07/2026. We're gonna have council member Snyder start with the pledge of allegiance. Alright. Thank you for leading us. Madam city clerk, please go roll.

Mayor Mills?

Here.

Mayor Pro Tem Padilla? Here. Council member Carbajal? Present. Council member Collins? Here. Council member Fiddler?

Here.

Council member Green?

Here.

Council member Snyder?

Here.

Council member Taddeo? Present. Council member Worth? Here. You have a quorum, your honor.

Thank you. And the next is the consent agenda. Madam city clerk, please read that through there excuse me, to the record.

Item two a, approval of the 03/03/2026 city council minutes. Item two b, final reading of an ordinance of the city council of the city of Brighton, Colorado, approving the Bromley Park planned unit development thirty sixth amendment for an approximately 1.65 acre property generally located to the Northeast of the intersection of Bowie Drive and North 50th Avenue, South of Chicory Circle and West of Purple Mustard Court, more particularly located in the Southwest corner of Section 2, Township 1 South, Range 66 West of the six principal meridian, City Of Brighton, County Of Adams, State Of Colorado.

Thank you. It was a pleasure of counsel. There we go. Council member Tadeo.

I move to approve.

Alright. And then council member Fiddler.

Thank you, mayor. I'll second.

There's a motion to approve the consent agenda as presented. Roll call vote. Motion passes nine to zero. Next is the approval of the regular agenda. Who'd like to make a motion on that when the screen changes over? Council member Green.

Thank you, mayor. I move to approve the agenda for our meeting this evening on April 7.

And then council member Worth.

Thank you, mayor. I second that.

We have a first and second to approve the regular agenda. Roll call vote. Motion passes nine to zero. Moving on to ceremonies item four a, Adams County Mayors and Commissioners Youth Awards Recognition. With that, we'll turn it over to city manager Martinez.

Thank you, mayor. Good evening, mayor mayor pro tem, members of council, members of the public who are here

with us this evening.

At this time, I will ask our youth services manager, Tanya Russell, to

come up and introduce our nominees.

Good evening, mayor and council. Thank you so much for your time tonight. I'm so excited to have the honor to introduce you to our special guest tonight. I have with me the some of the nominees for the Adams County Mayors and Commissioners Youth Awards. If you're not familiar with this award, it's a two part process.

So nominators nominate young people who have overcome adversity and continue to make a positive impact in their lives and their communities. So each of these young people were nominated. I have some young people who were not able to make it. So after they introduce themselves, I will let you know about the people who, were not able to attend tonight. After nominees are nominated, they, go to a second step where, they're read by a panel of judges, and several of them will move on to be recognized at the county level. So I'll let you know, which of our guests, are going to be recognized at the county level as well. So I'm gonna have you all introduce yourselves.

My name is Paton Sole. I'm in seventh grade, and I am from Bromley East. My name is Olivia Salazar, and I'm a senior. And I go to Brighton High School.

Olivia will be recognized at the county level this year.

Nice.

My name is Dawson Burzak. I go to Eagle Ridge Academy. I'm in tenth grade.

And those who are not able to make it tonight are Ariana Chaparo, Kobe V Hill, Gianna Armand, Alexi Skinner, who will be recognized at the county level, Mariah Acosta, Rose Valdez, and Ivan Dorado Madera, who also will be recognized at the county level. So, we we I know, we are very proud of these young people. I'm so thankful for you, spending time and honoring them tonight. I also would like to add a special thank you to all the nominators who took the time to write about each of these young people. So thank you so much for your time tonight.

Congratulations. Let let's have you come back up here and we'll do a picture. Let's have them come, like, let's let's all come in here. Again, congratulations. This is an event we look forward to annually.

So thank you also for the ones that will rep represent over at the county level as well. Next, we have some proclamations to recognize. Due to the interest of time, some we will read and some we will just recognize. The one one of the ones we'll read is, item four b, child abuse prevention month proclamation. Council member Karpohal will read that into the record.

Thank you, mayor. Child abuse prevention month twenty twenty six. Whereas every child deserves to grow up in a safe, nurturing environment, free from harm and fear. All children do not receive appropriate care. In fact, too many children become victims at the hands of abusive perpetrators, and it is up to us as a community to tirelessly work to end it through awareness and action.

Every responsible person will agree that even one abused child is too many. And whereas the month of April has been designated nationally as child abuse prevention month, at this time, we encourage all City of Brighton citizens to join in renewing our commitment to preventing child abuse and learning what we can do to promote the safety and well-being of children. And whereas the City of Brighton has dedicated individuals and organizations who work daily to counter the problem of child abuse and to help parents obtain the assistance they need. And whereas effective child abuse prevention programs, such as CASA of Adams and Broomfield Counties, succeed because of partnerships among families, social service agencies, schools, religious and civic organizations, law enforcement agencies, and the business community, and whereas all citizens, community agencies, faith organizations, and businesses will work to increase their efforts to support families. Now, therefore, be it resolved on behalf of the mayor, Gregory Mills, city of Brighton, of the city council, do hereby proclaim April 26 this child abuse prevention month in the city of Brighton.

City manager Martinez, who is here to receive this tonight?

Thank you, mayor. Here with us tonight from Casa is Josie Martinez. Oh.

Come on over, Josie. We know Josie.

I have a couple of words, if that's okay.

Is this on? This is on. Okay. Good evening, mayor and city council. My name is Josie Martinez, and I am the community engagement manager at CASA of Adams and Broomfield Counties. I also feel moved to say that Brighton is my hometown. It's where I grew up. And after those students were recognized, I went to Bromley East and I went to, oh my god, I'm like, where is my high school? I went to Brighton High. And so, it just feels very full circle to always be able to come back and speak to my city council and just be still involved in my hometown that helped raise me and also the city that helped keep me protected as a kid.

So thank you for recognizing Child Abuse Prevention Month and your continued commitment to children and families in this community. At CASA, we meet children who have experienced child abuse and neglect at some of the most uncertain and vulnerable moments of their lives, when everything they've known has been disrupted. What they most need in that moment is simple but incredibly powerful, and that's someone who shows up, someone who listens and someone who stays. That's what a Casa volunteer does. They're often the one consistent adult in a child's life during a time that's filled with change and confusion.

They make sure that that child is not lost in the system, that their voice is heard, their needs are seen, and their future is not decided without someone truly knowing them. And while we see the impact on each individual child, we also see something bigger. When we support children and strengthen families, we strengthen entire communities. By recognizing Child Abuse Prevention Month, you are helping to raise awareness about the importance of strengthening families, supporting parents, and creating brighter futures for children in Brighton. Here in Brighton, we've had the privilege of serving 40 children and families in this past year, but there are still many more waiting.

Right now, hundreds of children in our communities could benefit from having someone in their corner. So Child Abuse Prevention Month is not only about awareness, it's also about action. It's about each of us asking, What role can I play? I encourage anyone listening tonight to consider becoming a CASA volunteer. We have a wait list of over two eighty children waiting for a volunteer right now.

You don't need background knowledge or experience. We train you. All you need is compassion, consistency, and a willingness to make a difference. A great way to learn is at our annual Light of Hope luncheon, which is on May 1, where we'll share inspiring stories of advocacy and impact. We're proud to have the City of Brighton as one of the sponsors of that event, and so we're really greatly, greatly deep, oh my gosh, we're deeply grateful for your partnership in our mission. And I really thank you for this continued partnership and really acknowledging this month. Thank you.

And we'll go and get a picture.

Get to hold that.

Thank you.

Alright.

Next item, item four c, celebrating excellence in Brighton Wrestling twenty twenty six proclamation. And counts or, mayor Pro Tem Padilla will read that into the record.

I will. Before I read the proclamation, I do wanna share some news that's sort of hot off the presses here, because Matilda Ruby, who we'll mention in a little bit, participated in her first international tournament representing Team USA over the course of the last week. She was at the twenty twenty six u seventeen Pan American Championship, in women's freestyle and women's beach wrestling in Panama City this last week. She boners her way through the tournament, capped off the day with a pin in her final bout of the night. So she had that championship and then closed out the day with a championship double or a gold medalist in Sunday's beach wrestling competition.

So another three wins. So just amazing stuff happening But lest we think that that Tilly Ruby is all of what's happening in wrestling in Brighton, I'll read the actual proclamation to refer to more people doing amazing things. So celebrating excellence in Brighton wrestling in 2026. Whereas the city of Brighton has a long history of excellence in athletics, particularly in the sport of wrestling, beginning with the 1967 state champion Amos Sanchez. And whereas Brighton High School and Prairie View High School carry on the tradition of building excellent teams by coaching and training wrestlers through community athletics programs, and both demonstrate that athletic success helps to foster and grow community leaders.

And whereas Brighton High School is coached by Eric Hines and James Garcia, and Prairie View High School is coached by Zoraya Alvarado and Pete Alvarado, both schools support successful boys and girls wrestling teams since the introduction of a girls division in 2021. And whereas Brighton High School has won seven state wrestling championships since 1984 with 37 individual state champions, and Prairie View High School wrestlers have earned six individual state championship titles. And whereas on 02/21/2026, Brighton wrestler Tony Tufano won the five a championship at a hundred and thirteen pounds, Prairie View High School wrestler Jaden Cuevas claimed her second title in the five a girls' championship at a 115 pounds, and Brighton High School wrestler Matilda Ruby took her third title in the five a girls' championship at a 155 pounds. And whereas Brighton High School and Prairie View High School together had eight additional medal winners at the twenty twenty six Colorado High School Activities Association state wrestling tournament, and whereas Brighton High School's team placed fourth in the twenty twenty six five a boys' wrestling tournament. Now, therefore, be it resolved, on behalf of Gregory Mills, mayor of the city of Brighton, and on behalf of the city council, we do hereby proclaim April 7 as wrestling excellence in Brighton Day and encourage residents to join the city of Brighton, Brighton High School, and Prairie View High School in celebrating the team and individual accomplishments of these fine student athletes dated the April 2026.

City manager Martinez, who's introducing these fine athletes.

Thank you, Mayor. I'll ask the coaches to come up and introduce the athletes.

I appreciate you guys very much. One thing, Bromley East Bromley East. All these two these two state champs are both from Bromley East. I appreciate seeing you guys here, and, amazing that you're I remember. Been there a long time. So I love that. It's where I work. Still there. I love that school, and I won't leave. So, Tony Tofano was our state champ. This young man has a work ethic like no other. All year long, he worked his tail off, and I can't tell you, like, this kid, he's on another level. About a month before the state tournament, I pulled him aside and I said, you're gonna be a state champ. And I meant it with my heart, and, here we are today. So Tony Tufano, come on up, big guy.

Nice. Yeah. Tony

is also a four point o student. I'll introduce Matilda Ruby, three time Colorado state champ. Her new team is Matilda Ruby.

On that, if you didn't know Matilda Ruby, three time state champ, in the finals they kept her match to the very last match of the night. The last match of the night, she wrestled the only student from Pomona that could have been a four timer in all the state, boys or girls. There was one person that could do it. Tilly had to wrestle her. Tilly put a beating on her and took away her chance to be a four timer and now the X is on her and we challenge and we love the competition to come on because she's a tough little booger and she's starting to beat me up and that's not good.

It's the only time she had to wrestle all three periods in a match. It was crazy.

Absolutely. And she you know, the heart and soul of this team is right here. They've both been captains. Tony, Tilly, it's the greatest thing to have. And they're all about their education, too. It's not just about sports. They work their tail off in the room like you said, Tony, straight a student. I call him nerds and that's respect. Like, I wasn't that guy. Peter's known me since I was a kid.

I love the word nerd. And when I say that, I say that with the best gratitude and we have a lot on our team. State championship, kid running for the state tournament, going for the championship, he's up doing his homework during break. So amazing kids in all walks of life and I hope and wish we could have the continued support of all athletes and all students, city councils, schools, just the world to step up and treat these kids the way they should be. And I appreciate you guys taking the time to do this for our kids. Thank you very much. You guys go in the middle. We'll go on

the outside.

You guys better run.

The stars in the middle. Yes, Thank Thank

Definitely excellence in great student athletes here in our community. Next item, item four d, suicide prevention education awareness knowledge week also known as speak week proclamation. And city manager Marti oh, wait. Before we go to you, we're gonna have council member Collins read that into the record.

Thank you, mayor. Suicide prevention education education awareness knowledge week. Whereas suicide remains a leading cause of death in both The United States and Colorado, and Colorado continues to rank among the states with the highest suicide rates in the nation according to the most recent data from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, and whereas suicide is one of the leading causes of death among youth in Colorado, underscoring the urgent need for awareness prevention and early intervention efforts. And whereas Colorado youth continue to report rising levels of anxiety, depression, and isolation while demand for mental health services remains high. And whereas increasing awareness, reducing stigma, and encouraging open conversations about mental health care are critical steps in preventing suicide and supporting those in need and whereas the Brighton Youth Commission is committed to strengthening citywide suicide prevention efforts and believes these efforts should be supported and encouraged throughout the community, and whereas the Brighton Youth Commission founded Speak Week in 2012 following the tragic loss of a young community member and has continued the program each year to raise awareness, share resources, and reduce the stigma surrounding mental health.

And whereas together, we can raise awareness about suicide prevention, reduce sick stigma, support those impacted, and build a more caring and connected community. Now, therefore, be it resolved, on behalf of Gregory Mills, mayor of the city of Brighton, on behalf of the Brighton City Council, do hereby proclaim April 26 to 05/02/2026 as suicide prevention education awareness and knowledge week in the city of Brighton, dated this April 2026.

Thank you. City manager Martinez, who's here to receive this today?

Thank you, mayor. Here to receive this tonight is our youth commission chair, Diane Kim.

Come on over, Diane.

Good evening, mayor and members of city council. My name is Zion Kim, and I'm honored to serve as the vice chair of the Bryan Youth Commission. And side note before I go further, I also came out of Romy Shar School. So

Smarty pants, by

the way. So

on behalf of our commission, thank you for this proclamation and for your continued support of Speak Week. It truly means a lot to know that our community is standing with us. Speak Week is youth led and youth driven, and it's focused on something that impacts so many of us, mental health. Through this work, we're helping to create spaces where young people feel safe to open up, support one another, and know that they are not alone. This proclamation shows that the city of Brighton believes in young people, believes in these conversations, and believes in building a community where it's okay to ask for help. Thank you for standing with us and helping us to make Brighton a place where everyone feels seen, heard, and supported. We hope you will join us at the walk, and you can register at speak5k.org. Thank you.

We'll we'll come down and get a picture. And there will be a lot of speak week activities coming up in the May. So, moving on. We've got two more proclamations. We're gonna recognize them, but we're gonna combine them both item four e, National Crime, National Crime Victims' Rights Week proclamation, and also item four f, the sexual assault awareness month proclamation.

City manager Martinez, who is here to receive both of those?

Thank you, mayor. Here tonight to receive both of these is Taya Anderson, and I will ask Taya to come up.

Come on over.

Good evening, mayor and council. My name is Taya Anderson. I'm a victim advocate specialist with the Brighton Office for Victim Assistance. Thank you for recognizing April as sexual assault awareness month. Your acknowledgment sends a powerful message to survivors in our community that they are seen, supported, and not alone.

This year marks the twenty fifth anniversary of SAM with theme twenty five years stronger, looking back moving forward. It's a moment of reflect on the progress made driven by survivors and advocates to recommit to the work still ahead. Over the years, we have strengthened victim services, expanded prevention efforts, and built stronger partnerships across law enforcement, health care, and community organizations. These collaborations matter, and they make a real difference for victims and their families. Teal as the color of the month represents hope, healing, and our shared commitment to prevention and support.

At the Brighton Police Department and the Brighton Office for Victim Assistance, we remain committed to a victim centered, offender focused approach, ensuring survivors have options, support, and a voice. Thank you for your leadership and for standing with survivors as we continue building a safer, stronger community. So that's for the sexual assault one. For victim advocate I'm a victim advocate specialist presenting the proclamation recognizing National Crime Victims' Rights Week, April 19 to the twenty fifth twenty twenty six. Since 1981, communities across the country have used this week to honor crime victims, recognize the progress of the victims' rights movement, and recommit to ensuring victims are treated with fairness, dignity, and respect.

This year's theme, listen, act, advocate, protect victims, and serve communities, is both simple and powerful. To listen means we center the voices of victims. Trauma informed response begins by hearing survivors believing them and acknowledging the impact crime has on their lives. To act means we move beyond words. It requires coordinated response, timely services, and accountability so victims' rights are not just written in statute but realized in practice.

To advocate means we stand beside victims throughout the criminal justice process, ensuring they are informed, supported, and never navigating the system alone. Here in Brighton, our victim services professionals, law enforcement personnel, and community partners work every day to protect victims while serving our community with compassion and integrity. This week is a reminder that supporting victims strengthens public safety and community trust. Thank you for recognizing National Crime Victims' Rights Week and for your continued commitment to listening, acting, and advocating for those impacted by crime.

Thank you.

And you're welcome.

We'll come

do wanna stay?

We're gonna come down, and we'll get a picture with you. I've asked council member today to to join me. Two for you. We can both hold this for the picture. Definitely, you for standing up for victims everywhere.

Since some people are choosing to leave, which you're not required to leave, but you're welcome to stay for the rest of the meeting, but I'll let the room clear out as you will. And then we'll have, the next item. Alright. Next item is item five, public invited to be heard on matters that are not on the agenda. I have seven people signed up to speak.

So when I call you up one by one, you'll have up to three minutes to speak, and the city clerk will give you a one minute warning when you have one one excuse me, one minute left. And then when time is up, the time is up. So the first person signed up to speak is Chelsea Certain Curtin? Certain. Come on over. State your name for the record at the mic, and you'll have three minutes.

Hello, mayor Mills, members of council, and neighbors. My name is Chelsea Sertane. I'm here to talk about a 352,000 square foot ghost that's just materialized in our backyards. For months, we were told that 22600 East I 76 Frontage Road, Building 4, was a simple warehouse. On March 12, the mask finally kind of slipped.

We were told it's the Crusoe's spark factory. They called it a win for advanced manufacturing. But let's be honest. For the first time in this room, this is not a factory. This is a heartbeat of a massive, unveted AI expansion that was built under the community's nose to avoid community involvement. The exposure and the loophole that you guys created, Crusoe Energy isn't building cars. They're not building furniture. They are building SPARC units, modular turnkey AI data centers. By calling this manufacturing, the developers used a legal loophole to bypass the scrutiny that a massive data center project deserves. Why would we do that?

Because a data center requires a conversation about our power grid, but a factory just needs a building permit. Crusoe's own executives admit admit these modules scale to a 100 plus megawatt offerings. This is not a warehouse load. That's the energy consumption of a small city. We are now competing with a factory for the right to keep our own refrigerators running and our utility rates low.

You permitted a city sized power drain and it and called it light industrial to keep us all quiet. I have receipts. These are our sponsors for this project, at least three of them that I know. High Development built the shell. United Power negotiated the juice.

Three eye law chaired by the very head of our economic development corporation provided the legal cover, and our own city manager sits on the board that marketed this. I didn't find a tenant in March or you didn't find a tenant in March. You spent all of 2025 quietly paving the way for a company whose global power pipeline is 45 gigawatts, 45 times larger than the city of Denver. You invited a Titan in our living room and told us it was a house guest. They say they'll help the grid.

What that actually means is they'll hog our electricity until the moment we're facing a blackout, and then they'll act like heroes for turning off the machine. That isn't saving the planet, and it feels like it's a heist of our resources. While we struggle with inflation and property taxes, these sponsors are prepping the ground for a twenty year tax holiday. We'll get the traffic. We'll get the strained grid, and they'll get the profit. If you have to hide a project behind an LLC and call it a data set call a data center a factory to get it built, it's not development. It's an ambush.

Thank you. The next person signed up to speak is Bob Snyder. Come on over, Bob. State your name for the record. You'll have up to three minutes.

Bob Snyder. No relation to Jim. Thank you, Bob. Spelled with an I. Ben, can I get a picture with you when we're done? You get a lot of pictures here. Take it down a little path. Picture yourself in industrial area. You got garages across the street from you, woodworking shop, metal shop, auto repair shop. And you know the traffic comes in and out of those shops all times, night and day.

Well, right now, I'm living across the street in a residential area that is allowing an auto repair shop. I've dealt I've called in numerous times to the Brighton Police, numerous times Brighton Code with no action being done, and it's getting rather frustrating on my part. Constant traffic, you turn to the middle of the street. I'm two doors away from a public from a private school right in the heart of Brighton. I would like to see city manager get on code enforcement to do their job. That's it.

Okay. Thank you, Bob. And we'll have your address on the sign up sheet, and we'll have that followed up. Thank you. Next person signed up to speak is Tom Lampo. Come on over, Tom. State your name for the record, and you'll have up to three minutes.

Alright. Hello to Brighton. Hello to you in front of me. Hope all are doing well. I'm Tom Lampo, and I'm here to lift up Brighton to the Lord in prayer. So please join me in prayer. Heavenly father, in Jesus' name, we invite you here to the city of Brighton. You are you are always welcome here. This is your city. We honor your name because you are creator and the and the authority by which goodness is revealed. There is nothing equal to you. We desire a city where all people can find comfort in calling Brighton home. You've given us leaders. Now give them the wisdom to lead the city to your righteousness. Proverbs eleven fourteen states, where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in the abundance of counselors, there is safety.

We all want a city we can call home, a city where we can lay roots and enjoy the abundance you have given us. Make Brighton a city where your holy nature and just character is our standard. Let this guide us as we move forward. Heavenly father, we know that areas of our military are working to end the corruption that has guided our nation for many years. Their fight is real and goes mostly unnoticed.

Comfort those troops with Psalm thirty five one, which states, please my plead my cause, o lord, with them that strive with me. Fight against them that fight against me. Let all those that engage in this battle have the confidence in those around them and give them the knowledge that you go before them in their battle. Holy Spirit, come into our lives. We give you permission to work in our lives to keep us from areas we should not go.

Galatians five five sixteen says, but I say, walk by the spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. You were given to us to lead and guide us. Lead or left to our own understanding of our lives, we will choose what we desire. Help us to desire greater things that will produce fruit where there is no condemnation. Guide us to your everlasting peace. You are our God, and we are your people. In your precious name, we pray. Amen. Thank you, guys. Have a nice night.

Thank you, Tom. Next, Robin Cream. Come on over, Robin. State your name for the record. You'll have up to three minutes. Any paperwork you can give to the city clerk?

Hello. My name is Robin Kring. I live at 34 South 5th Avenue adjacent to the historic property at 575 South Bush Street. I wanted to respectfully present a second set of 239 signatures in addition to those presented on March 17, in all totaling 318 citizens supporting saving this property. The petition asks you to avoid demolition and instead use the funds, along with supplemental historic preservation grants, fundraising, local company sponsorships and volunteer efforts to repair and support a new occupancy in this historic building.

If I could, I'd like to share a story of how a historic property can give Brighton citizens a priceless sense of place in our cultural heritage. Recently, I was asked by a local charter school to provide a historical timeline to the historic Brighton Founders Plaza mural at Main And Bridge, of which I had the honor to write the background history. And the teachers of this third grade graders used this new timeline in the background history to develop a curriculum around Brighton history. They presented it in various history, geography, social study, and art classes. And the teachers took photos of the mural and presented the photos along with the historic photos of the buildings and various learning activities.

But the children weren't satisfied just with a photo of the mural or photos of the historic places. The third graders actually asked to visit and experience the mural and the remaining buildings in person. These children were expressing their desire to experience a sense of historical place that only an actual historic location can produce. A photo can't do justice to the actual experience or seeing it with your own eyes. A sense of cultural place is experienced by walking into and standing in the same building once used as Brighton's early town hall, public waterworks, early library, and senior center.

Seeing it in person to touch it lets both young people like this third grade class and the rest of us experience a sense of historical place in person up close and personal. In closing, please consider saving this from demolition and preparing it for occupancy to create that sense of place for this generation and others. And remember, once a historical cultural asset is destroyed, it's gone forever. Thank you.

Thank you, Robin. Next, Sonya Brown. Come on over, Sonya. State your name for the record. You'll have up to three minutes.

Hello. Sonia Brown, 15 South Main representing Wells Fargo Bank Commercial Property. I'm a commercial property manager in the city of Brighton, and I'm here to talk just like Robin about saving 575 South Bush. I know that there was a presentation to the historic group a couple months ago. And one of the things that they were saying was the city has said we need to tear down the building.

There's asbestos. There's lots of repair. There's lots of crime, all these things happening. And from the photos that I saw, it looked like there was some cosmetic work that might need to be done on the building. There was not really a lot in asbestos repair that I could see from my naked eye.

And from all intents and purposes, it sounds like the building is structurally sound. We are looking at trying to get a couple of bids together to see what it would cost to bring the building back to historic nature and be able to be inhabitable. I also am on the board for the Brighton Cultural Arts Connection. And one of the things that we would like to do is bring the building back to be able to host events there and meetings and bring community together. So I'm just here representing the same thing that Robin is, is trying to save 575 South Bush. Thank you for your time.

Thank you, Sonya. Next person signed up to speak, Michael Miller. Come on over, Michael, and state your name for the record. You have three minutes.

My name is Michael Miller. I'm also a resident of Brighton, Colorado at 34 South 5th Avenue. First, I wanna thank the council for providing the people an opportunity to speak on issues that are important to them. Like others here today, my comments are directed to the building located at 575 South Bush Street. Because this property has fallen into a state of disrepair, the city has come to the conclusion that it must be demolished, a decision which will leave the area vacant.

The people of this community are against such an an action. A primary concern for this is that a vacant corner lot would have a negative impact on the value of all residential properties for the entire community, not just the adjacent area. A vacant lot gives rise to the possibility of a multiple storied, multifamily apartment building, which greatly diminishes not only property value but the ambiance, attractiveness, and sense of a safe, secure, and intact residential neighborhood. All property owners strive to keep their properties well maintained not only for the safety and enjoyment of their families but to protect their investment as well. We all do our respective parts.

Perhaps the primary reason for the city's demolition decision is because it can find no commercial or municipal use for it. Our community disagrees. Consequently, we have made efforts to persuade the city to take a different course of action. Area residents conducted an effort to seek the opinion of people in Brighton at large for their position on destruction of a building that holds treasured memories for them. One result of that effort delivered a petition for over of over 300 names against demolition, and that petition was submitted to the council and is before you today.

Beyond the petition effort, through meetings and social media interest, also produced a list of viable alternative uses, which also has been presented to the council. The most attractive of these are a Brighton resident's plan to pursue an Emily Griffith type of opportunity school for which she has an interested investor. Another is a gentleman who would like to open a bed and breakfast. This idea brings new commerce to Brighton. His contact information has been forwarded to member to a member of this council and to Dale.

In closing, we propose the city abandon demolition plans and instead pursue repair and reuse of 575 South Bush, a banner to the history of Brighton, Colorado. Thank you for your time.

Thank you, Michael. Next, Gail McGaugh. Come on over, Gail. State your name for the record. You'll have up to three minutes.

Hi. My name is Gail McGough, and I thank the mayor and council for this time. I have been going door to door letting our neighbors know what is being planned for our historical building. And I should not be surprised, almost every door I've knocked on, I have been in the Armory Veterans event with a table. I have been in front of the AnyThink library.

I've been in front of the Brighton Rec Center. There is so much passion and love and history involved with this building remarkable. And that's something that we really need to recognize. It's not always about dollars. Our community wants this building for their use.

They want this to stay in their neighborhood. When I was at the armory, so many people were there and they didn't live here, but they wanted our history to stay intact. And that's really important. My second grade grandson asked me why I'm doing this and why the city would demolish a piece of history, and I didn't really have a good answer for him. And when we have our public schools here recognizing their effort towards living a better life and giving something to our community, if we destroy this building, we aren't giving them a piece of their family's history.

We're just taking it away. And once it's gone, it's gone. I have knocked on neighbors' doors. One fella, his passion was taking pictures of the water tower, and he has like lightning hitting it, and he just loved the building. There was another woman who lived in Reunion who drove this neighborhood twice a month looking for a historic home.

People that live here are here for the history and for the priceless home that they treasure and they take care of. And my house, it's not easy. There's a lot involved with an older home I did not expect, but you fall in love with it. And our community wants this building to stay. So please halt the demolition and research grants. And the community has so many great ideas and we really need to be reaching out to them. So that's it. Thank you.

Thank you, Gail. That is all I have signed up to speak. None of these items like I said are on the agenda for today. We will move forward. Next item moving ahead is item six a.

A resolution of the city council of the city of Brighton, Colorado approving with conditions as set forth herein an amendment to the conditional use permit for the Metro Water Recovery Northern Treatment Plant facility, generally located in Section 31 Township 1 North, Range 66 West Of The 6th Principal Meridian, within the city of Brighton, county of Weld, state of Colorado, and set forth details related thereto. I'm gonna open up the public hearing and ask if the city clerk will verify all the postings and publications were done.

Yes, your honor. The notice of public hearing was published on the city of Brighton website on 03/20/2026.

Thank you. Next, I will ask any members of council if they have any conflicts of interest or any ex parte communications related to this item. Seeing none, city manager Martinez, will you identify our presenter today?

Thank you, mayor. Making his inaugural presentation is Hampton Morris. So I will ask Hampton to come up and take it easy on him, counsel.

Alright. Be nice.

Right.

Good evening, mister mayor, mayor pro tem, council members, and members of the public. My name is Hampton Moore, planning technician with the city of Brighton, and I'm here to present the Metro Water Recovery CUP amendment. Joining me tonight is Aiden Travers, civil senior civil engineer for Metro Water Recovery, the applicant and property owner. The location of the property is outlined on the map. The approximately 83 acre property is generally located to the North of Baseline Road, West of Highway 85, and East of the South Platte River.

The following information is some background on conditional use permits in general. Please note that the proposal before you all tonight is an amendment to an existing CUP that was approved in 2012. At a high level, a CUP is a permit that allows for the flexibility of permitted uses within a zone district. Conditional uses are those that may not be generally appropriate throughout the zone district, but may be appropriate in certain locations and with certain conditions imposed. The CUP process evaluates a proposal on a site specific basis to determine its suitability for the area.

CUPs are required for certain uses outlined in article four point o three of the land use and development code. In the present form of the code, the water and or wastewater treatment plant use is used by Wright in the PL Zone District. However, in 2012, when the existing CUP was approved, this use was conditional, necessitating the CUP process. The property owner requests to amend the property's existing CUP conditional use permit twenty twelve dash one three two. The proposed amendment would allow for the installation of a temporary construction yard in support of the site build out as approved by the CUP.

For those unfamiliar with the process, a CUP acts as a site plan for the property and is the fifth step in the land development process with the city. The applicant has already completed all other steps on this list. With the approval of this CUP CUP amendment, excuse me, additional building permits will be required for the construction yards as well as any buildings constructed as part of the expansion. The Planning Commission typically reviews conditional use permit permits, but CUP twenty twelve dash one three two was approved by city council resolution and therefore must be amended using the same process. When considering the CUP amendment, staff use the review criteria outlined in section two point o seven of the land use and development code.

As mentioned, CUP twenty twelve dash one three two was approved by city council resolution in 2012 and permitted the construction of the Metro Water Recovery Northern Treatment Plant. The site was expected to be constructed in phases over time with final build out occurring in or around 2045. Phase one of the project developed the site to its current form as a 28,800,000 gallon per day average flow facility in 2016. Phase two, warranted by growth in the North Denver Metro, will expand the site to its full capacity with a 60,000,000 gallon per day treatment capacity. To provide some background on the property itself, the property is 82.687 acres and has a zoning designation of PL, public lands, within the Weld County portion of the city.

The property was annexed as part of the Metro Wastewater Reclamation District North Treatment Plant Annexation in 2012. The property is platted under the Metro Wastewater Reclamation District's North Treatment Plant subdivision. Here's a drawing showing the proposed location of the construction yards in red. The image is oriented so that the north is on the left side of the drawing. Proposed construction yards would be located in the northeast corner of the site.

Proposed location is internal to the site, and the only external line of sight comes from Highway 85 and not from adjacent properties. After review of the application materials, staff is proposing eight conditions for the City Council's consideration. Number one, the temporary construction yard shall be limited to the area shown in the CUP application. Number two, the temporary construction yard shall be fully screened from public spaces and no material shall be stacked higher than the screening. Number three, the maximum fence height to be used for screening is 10 feet.

Number four, screening shall be permanent, opaque, decorative fencing that complements the architecture and materials of the surrounding buildings. Number four five, excuse me, a stabilized dust free surface shall be used in the temporary construction yards. Number six, site landscaping shall be maintained in the original condition as approved by CUP twenty twelve dash one three two. Number seven, the temporary construction yards are permitted for a period no longer than ten years. And finally, number eight, the conditions of the CUP twenty twelve dash one three two remain in full force and effect.

The future land use designation for the property is public land. Proposed construction yards meet the intent of this designation by supporting the expansion of a public use. Chapter four of the comprehensive plan outlines a number of policies to guide land use decisions. In reference to policy 1.2, the proposed construction yards support the expansion of public facilities that provide capacity for residential and economic growth. This furthers the comprehensive citywide principles one and five, managing growth and economically vibrant community, respectfully.

Supporting Metro on their expansion plans within Brighton promotes positive interagency planning efforts, the goal of policy 1.5. Now looking to the land use and development code, the city council shall use the following criteria in making its decision. Proposal meets all five criteria listed here. Proposal supports the expansion of a public use, which promotes the intent of both the property's zone district and future land use designation. The conditions proposed by staff follow the standards for outdoor storage in the I 1 Industrial Zone District per LUDC section four point o three e.

While the water and or wastewater treatment plant use is listed as a civic use in the code, it's industrial by nature, leading staff to feel that the industrial standard should be applicable in this case. These conditions ensure that the construction yards are adequately screened from public view and that any potential externalities are mitigated. Furthermore, the temporary nature of the proposal will have no lasting effects on drainage, utilities, or any other public facilities. Proposal also meets criteria six through 11. The proposal the conditions proposed by staff ensure that the manner of screening is consistent with the surrounding site and that the landscaping and site designs approved in CUP twenty twelve dash one three two remain in place.

The applicant requested a duration of ten years for the temporary construction yards. Staff agrees that a maximum duration of ten years is acceptable. Due to the size of the site, the temporary nation nature of the construction yards, and their proposed location on the site, staff has determined that the proposal would have no negative impacts on the development or use of the surrounding properties. And finally, rather than hinder any long range plans applicable to the site, this proposal facilitates the completion of these plans. Altposting was completed in accordance with the land use and development code.

On March 20, written notice was mailed to all property owners nearby. Signs were posted on the property, and digital notice was posted to the city's website. In addition to the public notice, city staff also posted information for this public hearing on Facebook and Nexstar. Prior to any formal submittal to the city, a neighborhood meeting was held by the applicant on 07/18/2025. Planning staff has received no formal comment from the public in advance of this hearing.

As for staff recommendations, the development review committee reviewed this project and recommends approval. Staff finds that the proposal meets the review criteria found in section two point o seven b of the land use and development code and therefore recommends approval of the Metro Wastewater Recovery CUP amendment. Staff has prepared a draft resolution recommending approval of the proposed CUP amendment with eight conditions as described previously. At this time, the city council has four options, and those are on the screen. Thank you all for your time and attention this evening. I look forward to any questions you may have for myself or the applicant.

Would the applicant like to add to the presentation?

Good evening. My name is Aiden Travers. I'm a senior civil engineer, with Metro Water Recovery. I believe that Hampton has done a great job of explaining this case. We do have a short presentation just with some visuals. If council would like to see, we can we can go ahead with that.

At your discretion.

Sure.

So

first, just a quick overview of our, northern treatment plant at 51 Baseline Road. It is outlined in red. And I've tried to give, hopefully, not too busy of a breakdown of some of our upcoming tentative plans for expansion of our treatment processes to try and meet our continuous goal of treating the area as wastewater and being stewards of the environment. So in relation to this case, this is a rendering of the construction staging area. That is the topic of discussion with the screening vents around it.

As you can see, there's some current use. We've we just have a contractor trailer, a couple of Konex boxes for storage of materials and equipment, contractor parking, some material temporary lay down in preparation for construction or demolition. This is a view of that staging area from Highway 85. I would say this is the best view that you can get of it from the public realm. It's generally more hidden from, the southern viewpoint, by a bit of a hill on the edge of our property line, from the aerial viewpoint.

So the red is the the current staging area location that we have plans for. And as part of this request, we also included the green area, if there is need for additional construction staging within this ten year period. We did have temporary screening fence given the high winds that we've received here in Brighton. These were not feasible for the safety of the site, you know, both our infrastructure and our personnel. So we have suspended any temporary screening.

We've been waiting on wrapping up this permit process to install the permanent fencing as outlined by Hampton. This was just a few days ago here in April, showing what the contractor staging area looks like currently with one of our ongoing projects. And as previously shown, here's a rendering with a little bit more detail of the fencing that will be around the construction staging area. That is the last remaining item that needs to be constructed in relation to it. So in terms of the purpose, you know, it's mainly for contractor trailers, contractor vehicle parking, storage of construction materials, to be used for various projects at our Northern Treatment plant.

We are, hoping to get this permitted so that we can have a central location that can serve multiple projects rather than having to, kind of expand throughout our site and get different staging areas, basically every year for the next ten years. In terms of the appearance, we've got the the screening fence, the dust free gravel lot. We've estimated roughly three contractor trailers could fit there, with a dozen or so vehicles. Temporary staging and materials. We don't, expect any major impacts from noise or or, smell, dust, anything of that nature.

So happy to take any questions or hand it off hand it back to Hampton.

K. Well, this is actually time for any public comment, although nobody has signed up to speak yet. But if anybody has interest in signing up to speak, there are sign up sheets in the back, and we'll have up to three minutes. Madam city clerk, is there any digital public comment to share?

No, your honor.

Alright. Now we'll go on to questions and comments from council. Councilmember Carverhall.

Thank you, mayor. My question is just I noticed in one of the parameters that you set is that the fence has to be only 10 feet tall, and then nothing inside of the fence can exceed that height as well. Knowing that the modulars are typically over 10 foot, I'm just concerned we're setting parameters that don't necessarily allow them already to do that. And we could see in the picture it already went over that 10 foot. So how do we combat that and not set parameters that don't make sense for what we're putting in there?

Yeah. So we determined the, 10 foot parameter based on our typical outdoor storage standards in the code, but city council is free to exceed those and put a a different height limit on it if they feel that's necessary.

Yeah. And my question would be, typically, those modulars are closer to 12 to 14 feet. Is that correct?

Correct.

So we are setting a parameter if it's not gonna happen. Okay. Just checking.

Alright. And then council member Green.

Thank you, mayor. Does the original, conditional use permit ever expire?

No, sir. It does not.

Okay. Again, by the way, thank you, mister Moore. You did excellent. We hope to see more of you.

Thank you.

Hampton Inn, my friend. When will the construction begin if this, amendment is awarded?

So this contractor staging area is mostly already built under a temporary use permit that we went through with the City of Brighton Planning Commission. In terms of future construction, currently, we only have one active construction project on-site that this staging area is being utilized in conjunction with. I can't say how many more we'll have in the next ten years. A handful.

In your slide, you referenced five and six as the new. Are those planned to be done in the next ten years, or is that what we're looking at?

Are you referencing the initial overview with future potential projects? Exactly. Those are tentative plans at this time. There's potential that they could be completed in the next ten years. I can't say for certain.

So you don't have any firm construction plans currently right now other than just the peaceful projects that go on?

Yes. Yeah. We yes.

K. Is is there the ability to renew this construction permit?

Not it's not contemplated at this time, but when the ten ten year period has passed, if they need more time, they could come back for another amendment.

K. And and you you kind of addressed my question because it looks like you're already using it as a construction storage site, but you got a contemporary use permit for it. And so that's fine too. The the other thing I I I was wondering is in your comprehensive plan slide that you had there, some of your justifications was new municipal investments in infrastructure. What municipal investments are we making in this infrastructure? There will be none. Thank you. Second, you you also said it was carrying out ongoing transparent and cooperative interagency and interdepartmental planning. What interagency and interdepartmental planning are we doing as part of this?

Well, we are supporting Metro Wastewater's expansion plans, which were approved to the city. And therefore, we're working with their long term expansion plans to support our long term expansion plans of developing the city, cleaning that capacity.

But we're a customer. That's correct.

But they are intel they are departmental or excuse me. They are a quasi public entity, so they are interagency versus us. So that was justification that I used for that.

All right. You very much.

Next, Mayor Pro Tem.

Thank you. I I wanted to follow-up a little bit more on the question that came from Councilmember Carbajal, just trying to figure out, as I'm reading slide eight. I see the maximum fence height, and then I see the restriction on materials being stacked higher than the screening. Does this conditional use permit prevent anything within the fence from being taller than the fence or only the stacking of construction materials?

I believe, typically, it's only the stacking of construction materials.

So our director of utilities could take his gigantic truck into that zone, it would stick out above the 12 feet. But I

believe so. Yes. Feet.

Okay. So a restriction of the height of the fence doesn't prevent the trailers from being in there? Correct. Okay. And then I I think I heard you say at some point or another that 2025 is when we were looking at the period for expansion. This is really 2025 being the beginning of the time for

Sorry.

I might have misspoke. It's 2045.

2045. Okay. I I I was trying to figure out why we were doing this when we were finished with the with the work and we're indeed not finished with the work. Okay. I I I was getting a little confused there. Okay. I think I received what I needed from that. Thank you.

Alright. Given there are no other questions, does the applicant wanna comment any further after that? No. Thank you for your time. Alright. I will go ahead and close the public hearing. This is before council for consideration. Council member Fiddler.

Thank you, mayor. I move to approve item six a as presented.

Then council member Carbajal.

I will second.

We have appropriate first and second to move item six a. Roll call vote. Motion passes nine to zero. You are now undefeated. Good job.

Sounds good. I'll pick that up. Thank you, councilmembers.

Thank you all.

You'll get Tom's negative vote someday. Alright. Hold on for just a moment. Next item nine a, a resolution of the city council of the city of Brighton, Colorado accepting the proposal of Tyler Technologies Incorporated and approving the procurement of the Brighton Police Department records management system for the contract amount of $734,340 and authorizing the city manager to execute the contract on behalf of the city. City manager Martinez.

Thank you, mayor. Here presenting this next item is commander Justin Moore.

Justin presents, don't we have to vote no automatic vote?

You might have to, but, I wish that you won't. What's that? Yeah. We have two

Is that the one?

More in a row, so I didn't did not plan that out. Yeah. No relation. But good evening, mayor Mills and members of city council. I'm commander Justin Moore.

Like you said, I represent the, police department. Tonight, I'm requesting approval to award a contract to Tyler Technologies for a new police records management system or RMS is what we call it and authorize a city manager to execute that contract. So currently, the Brighton Police Department uses a shared RMS system, through the Adams County, dispatch center where multiple agencies share the cost, infrastructure, and support for that system. However, a couple years ago, AdCom experienced a cyber attack that highlighted some challenges associated with hosting a shared RMS platform. Following that, the largest partner agency, the Adams County Sheriff's Office, transitioned away from that shared system.

And as those changes occurred, it became clear that AdCom's primary focus is nine one one communication. And over time, the board determined that hosting a shared RMS was no longer aligned with that core mission. So in 2025, the AdCom board formally decided to discontinue the shared RMS model, requiring each agency to implement its own stand alone system. Most of the partner agencies have already transitioned or are in the process currently of transitioning. The city does not act in a timely manner.

Brighton will be in a position where we are paying AdCom in 2027 while we're also planning to implement our own new RMS system, essentially duplicating costs. The RMS system is, the core system for the police department. It supports our report writing, our investigations, our evidence tracking, our prosecutions, and information sharing across the criminal justice system. This is a system that every member of the department interacts with in some capacity on a daily basis, making it our most widely used and most critically the most critical tool that we have. So our goal was to implement a modern, efficient and sustainable system that improves daily operations and positions us for the future for our future needs.

This includes better data access, reduced duplicate entry, improved reporting accuracy and stronger integration with our partnering systems. We issued a formal request for proposal and received eight submissions. Our staff evaluated each proposal based on cost, functionality and technology capabilities. From there, we shortlisted down to three vendors for in-depth demonstrations and panel interviews. We also contracted or contacted and interviewed agencies currently using each one of those systems to get real world feedback on performance, implementation, and vendor support.

Based on that evaluation, staff recommends awarding, the contract to Tyler Technologies, as they stood out for several different They have strong integrations with our key criminal justice systems, including e discovery and court systems. They have a proven performance with agencies similar to the size as Brighton. They have user friendly workflows that meet compliance requirements. They have an infield reporting capability, allowing officers to complete reports more efficiently. Additionally, Tyler provides a solution to host and access our legacy data in a searchable format within the new system, ensuring continuity and accessibility.

The implementation of this would include system configuration, data migration, testing and training, the processes faced to minimize disruption and maintain continuity of operations. So the proposals we received range widely in cost from approximately $362,000 to just over $2,100,000 Tyler Technologies was determined to be the lowest, most responsive and responsible bidder that meets the needs of our department. Funding for this project has already been included in the 2026 budget and will carry forward into 2027 as needed. So I present with you your guys' options to approve the resolution as drafted, accepting the bid proposal submitted by Tyler Technologies, deny the resolution as drafted or approve a modified resolution. So at this time, I'm happy to answer any questions you guys may have.

Thank you for your presentation. But the questions from the council, mayor pro tem.

Thank you very much, sir. I appreciate this. So the first piece, just for clarity, we have no choice. We need to implement our own records management system depending on Adams County Sheriff's Office is not really a viable option moving forward.

That's correct.

Yeah.

Just wanted to make sure. Sometimes, it it is important that you don't have any other choices. The the next question I had was a and I think you answered it, but I was just trying to be sure. Would we be moving our data from the current RMS that the sheriff's has as live data and live records in this system, or would they it'd be just for archival and reporting purposes?

It's kinda yes to both. So, traditionally, when we transition from an RMS system, which the police department has done a couple times throughout its history, is there's a very expensive and lengthy process of transitioning that data into the new system. So what we're doing now with this company, they have a solution where we can archive our data into a database that is searchable in the new RMS system. So while we'll have access to it, it's not exactly being entered into, thus saving time and money.

Okay. Yeah. Because migration is certainly challenging, especially because the workflows are different and everything else is better. Okay. Since we just have done some successful Tyler systems implementations, are there any common elements or is there any integration with those systems or is this really standalone?

I mean, there could be in the future. Some of their products do integrate, but the RMS system and the and the ERP obviously do two separate things, both vital to each one of the the departments. We did we do have some things that crossover, like the network that was had to be set up to make sure that Tyler ERP was working correctly. It's already in place here, so it makes that transition for the RMS even easier for us.

It doesn't really share much in common with our utilities billing system, for example. So it wouldn't be there, but it was that underlying infrastructure that I was really more concerned with. And is is this something that we would also then engage project management from Tyler or an outside firm to implement, or would our IT department be doing this?

So we actually have, like, an implementation team led by me. I've been working closely with members of the IT department, everyone from GIS, the networks, etcetera. Also utilizing, like, some of our power users at the police department, our records manager, some of our our trainers in the system front end. They've been part of the team since the beginning. That's that's our team that we're using. And we do have a project manager from the Tyler technology side as well.

Again, it's different from our finance system where we had to migrate everything over fully into the new system. It's it's really its own deployment.

Yes.

And then the does this have any impact, or does the software have any impact on our efforts towards CALIA certification?

It actually does. So, like, one of the one of the benefits Tyler has that I didn't mention earlier is they have analytics capability. Right now, in our current RMS, we have a bunch of data in there from all the different incidents and people that we've ran into and contacted. We have to mine it out a different way. We have to author reports to get that to be a presentable format. This system we're getting right now has an analytics tool, more of like a dashboard or even like the lowest level front end user. You click on that dashboard and actually get some useful data out of it. So that will help in in certain fields.

Yes. Yeah. Data is a huge part of

Data is huge.

Really in making that happen. So I'm excited about that. Okay. And then the last question is, which of our area peers are using the Tyler system?

So the closest one would be the Brownfield Police Department. They've been using Tyler, I think, going on, like, close to a decade. As far as, like, agency peers, I think every single one that was with AdCom is going with a a different one. So

Everybody's chosen their own

Yes.

Scanner to them. Okay. Thank you. I I think this is, certainly something that we need to do, but, I think that it's something that we ought to do. Thanks.

Thank you.

Next, council member Green.

Thank mayor. Just a couple of quick questions. What security will be in place to prevent another cyber attack?

So I wish I I wish I was, like, an IT network expert, but it's a it's a software as a product solution. And what they use is a GovCloud, storage. I wish I was more technical and and more proficient on that, but they have multiple layers of protection in case one area of of the country goes down. We still have access to our data and protection from that.

Yeah. So you're basically you have a lot of confidence in the security of this system here?

I do. I actually have a lot of confidence in the in the IT personnel that helped that were on the team when we were selecting this product. I wish I had the the education to to tell you exactly what it is, though they all seem pretty confident in the security.

K. And the other last question for me is, is this an annual fee then that we'll be continually have to pay?

There is an annual fee right now. A majority of the fee that we're paying, upfront is for implementation, but then ongoing every year there there is a continuing fee.

Do you know what that is?

Right now, it's like, think it's 303,000 k. Yearly.

Thank you. 700 and Alright.

Next next council member Tadeo. Thank

you very much. Council member Padilla asked one of my questions on who else was already using it because that that was one of my questions. My other question is is in regard to cost. You said we we general we in the past, we've shared with Adams County. Do you know what that cost was at that time, like, as as opposed to what it's going to be after the implementation? Like, how is that comparable? I'm just curious.

So I don't have the exact numbers. Chief Domenico may have, like, a better idea of exactly what the numbers are.

Yes. There you go. Had

a call on relief here.

Sorry.

Come on down. Sorry.

Alright. We all owe you money.

Spoiler alert. I don't have the number in front of me either. But, transparently, this is significantly more expensive. We've been sharing these costs with four other agencies. The system does not provide the functionality that we need. It never has provided the functionality that we needed. Part of that is due to having to share all decisions have to be shared by the four partner agencies. So, yes, it is substantially more expensive, probably a couple 100%, you

know, two to 100%.

I I I as council member Padilla pointed out, we don't have a lot of choice in it. That cost sharing model is not really viable. But, yes, I I strongly believe in in the work Justin and his team have done. It's a it's a good product, and it'll take us years forward in a lot of things we've been working on.

That's great news. Thank you.

Alright. Thank you all for your quest oh, council member Snyder. Oh, wait. Was council Miller fit weren't you up there? Okay. Alright. Council member Snyder.

Since it's a lot more expensive, do we have the money in the budget to cover the expense? Is that money there or do we need to find it? No. It's there

in the budget. Fine. Okay.

Alright. I think all the quest oh, council member Green.

And this one just came to mind. Is this a long term contract, or is it an annual contract?

It's a it I believe it's a three year contract with an option to continue.

Okay. Thank you.

I got just a clarifying questions here. So remind me, we pay into AdCom for their services for dispatch and everything. Right? And they were the previous records management that served Brighton. Correct?

Right. Well, they they hosted the server for

the records management.

So that was a value added service we had by just being part of AdCom. Is that correct? Do we get a discount now further further lack of that records management?

They do have a formula about about how they charge us for the services just for the nine one one services loan for taking and receiving the calls and creating the calls for service and dispatching our officers and running clearances and stuff like that. On addition to was the other services that they charge for the RMS hosting, which included maintenance on the servers, an FTE to for maintenance. All all things. K.

I I I'm not gonna stop us from moving forward. I I know we have to do this and and having a reliable records management, something that's safe, secure, less chances of having cyber attacks. Hopefully, there's never a 100% chance on that, but we'll move forward. So we got some motions, mayor Pro Tem.

Thank you. I'm happy to move item nine a.

Council member Tadeo.

Thank you, mayor. I'll second that.

First and second to move item nine a. Roll call vote. Motion passes nine to zero. Thank you.

Thank you guys very much for your time. Appreciate it.

Moving ahead to utility items. Oh, I it's been requested. We take a short break. Let's do a quick break because we're we have executive session. We have three item no no. Two items plus reports. Okay. Really quick break. Back in session. Alright.

Item 10A and let's get back. Come on. 10A and ordinance of the City Council, the City of Brighton, Colorado, amending sections or sections of Article thirteen-four of the Brighton Municipal Code relating or regarding water dedication and service outside the city and Section thirteen-twelve-fifty five regarding wastewater service outside of the city. This is the final reading. City manager Martinez.

Thank you, mayor. While indeed this is a final reading at the first reading at our last meeting, council did approve the ordinance as drafted, but the there were some some there were, excuse me, some suggested changes to be made. So in your packet, you'll have two ordinances, one being the original, the second having some changes. And I will ask our utilities director to come up and give a presentation on the second ordinance, which is which has the requested changes in it. And you can consider your two options.

Director Olsen loves coming up here.

Alright. Good evening, mayor, mayor pro tem, and members of city council. As our city manager said, this is, a second reading for this ordinance. You guys did request some changes, so we'll step through the differences, in the two ordinances that you guys have in your packet. So first up is just the water dedication portion of it.

This portion of the ordinance remains unchanged from that first reading. There were no requested changes with this. Just as a reminder, this is a reduction in some of the water dedication requirements for more dense housing. Moving into the extraterritorial service, this is the, the alternate second reading. So I'll discuss the, differences between the first one that you approved at the last meeting and this alternate one here.

So we have reduced in the alternate one the extraterritorial service rate down, from two to one and a half times the in city rate. And I just want to, point out the example that was given to you time, regarding the improvements for the Sable Intersection, part, and there were some questions about since we're causing that impact to that, specific property owner, would they also be required to pay the 1.5 times the in city rate? And the answer to that, is no. That that would come to you guys, in the form of a release agreement. And in that agreement, we could address the, rates that that specific property owner would be subject to in the future.

The second change that we had made is you guys requested that we make this an administrative process rather than bringing a written agreement in front of you all. So we have changed that to be a written agreement approved and executed by the city manager. The next change is that, we could also we would also subject it to the, the three conditions that are on the screen there. They would be responsible for payment of all other fees and charges, including water dedication if that is required, any additional conditions that the city manager would place on them, And then all conditions and obligations that are set forth in that written agreement are binding on future property owners, successors, and assigned. So it would go with the land.

Also, the extraterritorial service may be denied if such service would constitute an under undue burden on the city. So there was a request to put some, bumper rails, I believe, if if I'm, using the right terms that were used to make sure that we aren't extending a waterline or a service line for many miles to serve somebody. So with that, staff's recommendation is adoption of the ordinance as revised from the first reading. The options for city council are, to approve the original ordinance on this second reading or approve the alternate ordinance proposed. And with that, I'll take any questions.

Alright. Thank you for the revised press representation. We'll go on to questions. Mayor Pro Tem.

Thank you. The question is primarily about the change in the rate for extraterritorial services, at one and a half. Does that retroactively then adjust down the existing services that are paying two times our rate?

So that that's correct. We would go back and we would adjust those rates down to be one and a half times. That doesn't mean that we would, give them back any, reimbursement or anything because they were paying according to city code at the time.

Just moving forward, they would be paying the new outside of city limits rate?

Yes, sir. That's correct.

Okay. Thank you.

Next, council member Green.

Hey, mayor. This is just, I don't know why this question came to my head, but, do they have to take both? Do they have to take water and sewer, or could they just take city water, or just there's no requirement so they could keep their septic tank system and just take city water?

That's correct. Yeah. They there's no requirement that if you're connected to water, you also have to be connected to sewer. There are some portions in the city where there might only be one service that's readily available without creating an undue burden. So, yeah, they don't have to connect to both.

There you go. Thank you.

Next council member Carbahall.

Yeah. Thank you so much for this double presentation. My question is more for you, Alicia, and I don't know if this is the right time to bring this up. However, I'm just curious if under the bylaws and how we operated this, if it would be traditional that you would come back with two presentations after us approving it, just for clarity.

Thank you, council member Carbajal. No. I would like council to do a better job. And in the future, if you would like amendments to make a motion and amend rather than just make suggestions but vote on an original. So this is an unusual situation. And in your motion today, if you could be clear, whoever is making the motion, if you could be clear as to whether you are moving to approve the original ordinance or if you are moving to approve the revised ordinance.

Thank you, city attorney. And thank you again for going back and doing two presentations,

presentations for Russ. Us. Absolutely. Yep. We'll do a better job next time. Alright. No other questions. We'll go on to motions. Council member Green.

I blame Peter. I move to approve the revised ordinance.

You said the revised?

Yes.

Okay. And then council member Snyder.

I'll second the approval of the revised ordinance.

The first and second to approve the revised ordinance of item, 10 a. If there's no other questions, roll call vote. Could we just have her do a roll call vote on that?

Would you like me to, do a roll call on everybody or just council member Collins?

Just council member, Collins since

the residence.

How would you

like to vote on this?

Yay.

You for

there we go. Motion passes nine to zero.

Thank you for your time. Thank you.

Next item is item, 10 b, a resolution of the city council of the City of Brighton, Colorado declaring stage one moderate to severe drought conditions and authorizing the city manager to promulgate rules and regulations for the conservation of water in the city of Brighton water utility system. City manager Martinez.

Thank you, mayor. As discussed at our last meeting as well, the staff has been looking at our current drought situation and how that affects our community. Over the last, really, last four or five months, the staff has been continuing to monitor these conditions. Tonight, we are coming to you with suggestions as to our drought and watering restrictions and how we will affect that moving forward. And, again, I will turn it over to our director of utilities.

Thank you, city manager. I just wanna start off. Austin Creswell, our water resources manager, is here as well so he can help answer any questions that you all have. I do wanna just begin off with some statistics here on kinda where we stand. We do have to put these presentations together and get them through the approval process. So when I submit this, not everything is up to current date. So I'll give you some verbal updates on where we actually stand as of this afternoon as well. So when I put this together as of March 26, the snowpack in the South Platte River Basin was 48% of the median. That is zero percentile. As of this afternoon, things have continued to worsen.

We're at 35% of median, and, of course, that is still zero percentile. As of March 26, the water demand was about 14.2 over the monthly average since 2017. And to round out the month of March, we were about 11.5% over that that average for March since 2017. We did see a little bit of relief there at the March. The 90 degree days came down a little bit, and so we had some relief.

Also, of March 26, and this is still current as of today, our reservoirs are about 74% full. This is really typical for this time of the month, but we usually rely on snow melt that would be forthcoming to top those reservoirs off so that we can use that water in the future. Because of the snowpack condition, we don't anticipate that we're going to get any snow melt that we can actually pull into our reservoirs. We typically refer to that as free river. And so the the reservoirs, we're gonna have to rely on our water rights to really, finish filling those.

In addition, the city of Thornton and the city of Denver have both declared stage one drought. They each have a different percentage that they have identified, when their councils approve those, and they are going to be reducing their deliveries to the city of Brighton by that same percentage that was identified, in their goal. So for the city of Thornton, they're going to be reducing their deliveries to the city of Brighton by 10%. And for the city of Denver, they're going to be reducing it by 20%. In addition to these, the city also doesn't have our new treatment plant.

With that expanded capacity, it's not, yet available. It is running ahead of schedule, as you all know, but it's not quite ready, at this point. So on the screen now, is a graph of the last three years of our water system demand. So this blue color here is the current year, 2026. The orange is 2025, and the green is 2024.

Again, this is just through the date of this presentation being prepared. And we've actually continued to climb even off of this graph as of today. So since putting this together, we've had two days that are over 5,000,000 gallons per day. And as you can see in the previous two years, 2000, '25 and '24, by this time, we didn't even have a year, or day, sorry, that was over 4,000,000 gallons. So we're we're quite above where we, normally would be.

So if you look at just those two years that are on this graph, right now, we're about 14.8% over the average demand for the same time of year. The next graphic on the screen now is a snowpack graphic. The black line here is the current year, so 2026. The various colors are different percentiles. Obviously, I said that we are in zero percentile, so we are below any of those colored areas on the graph.

The, the blue line is the max, the green is the median, and the red is the minimum. And then I also wanna point out that this, darker green line right here, is year 2002, which is really a benchmark that we use, for drought in Colorado. That was a really dry year. And as you can see, we are even below that. So since putting this graphic together, as I said, we're at 35% of median.

So this has continued. The black line has continued to drop. And in the last few days, it's it's evened off a little bit, but we're sitting right at that, 35%. So what has staff been doing about this? We've been monitoring these conditions as the city manager said.

We've also been sharing some education and outreach, with our residents, in various different places. We've, used social media to let people know, the residents know about the drought conditions that we're experiencing, what they can do to keep their new trees or shrubs and everything alive instead of turning on irrigation systems. We've shared this on social media, Brighton Weekly, the city's website, and many other resources. On the screen are just a couple examples of how we have gotten that word out. So on the, on the screen now, these are our drought stages.

So stage zero being normal operations, stage one, which we're asking you to consider and implement this evening, and then moving up to extreme or exceptional conditions. And then on this next slide is just sort of a written out explanation of what each of those stages means. The really, the most important part is the number of watering times per week. So when we're at normal operations, our city code allows for three times per week. And as we move through those stages, it reduces the amount of times per week that people can use their irrigation systems.

So as I just mentioned, the existing water restrictions in city code that we have annually, they reduce the use of the irrigation system down to three days per week, and that is based on the address of the property. There are a few other restrictions that we always have every summer. That is no irrigation between 10AM and 6PM, no sod installation above 200 square feet, and then wasting of water such as letting it run down the storm drainage system or pool on the property, is also prohibited. So on the screen now are the, proposed stage one restrictions. So we're reducing that allowed irrigation down to, two days, per week.

This is still based on the, street address. If there is not a street address, that would be on on the unassigned portion. And we assign specific days. Those three restrictions that I mentioned about the time of day when you can water, the sod installation, and the wasting of water also would begin immediately if this resolution is passed by city council. I do wanna point out in the red on the screen is that watering, a person watering by means of a hose or watering can is still allowed.

So you are able to, water those trees or shrubs by using your hose, or a watering can. So what's next? So if, council is to pass this resolution tonight, and declare that the city of Brighton is in stage one restrictions, we really need to focus on public education outreach. We need to inform the public of this decision and the restrictions that are being placed on that. Once we get that word out, then we can we can place an emphasis on enforcement and making sure that, folks are following those restrictions and that we are truly protecting our water resources.

So with that, staff's recommendation is approval of the resolution as drafted. And then Austin and I are available for any questions that you may have.

Thank you for your presentation. We'll go into questions. Council member Snyder.

Thank you, mayor. Scott, don't we, in city ordinance, require residents to have a certain amount of turf grass in their yards? Isn't that a a code requirement?

I don't know that there's a requirement on how much sod somebody has to maintain on their property. No. I don't believe so.

I thought we had that. What about, HOAs?

Yeah. That that's a good question. So that we get that question a lot. The question really is, if we have watering restrictions in place, can an HOA or another entity force a homeowner to water? The answer is they can't force a homeowner to water any more than our regulations. They they can require that landscaping be watered at the minimum, but they can't require that it be watered above a local jurisdiction's restrictions.

Most of them do have time frames, though. Correct? When you buy a house, you have a certain in an HOA, you have ninety days to have your landscaping put in. So if you needed to put sod grass down and the HOA has that ordinance, does the city drought proclamation override that and then they don't have to put their landscaping in? I mean, how are we gonna protect the homeowners from the HOA if they can't put sod grass in?

Yeah. That's correct. And these these protections for homeowners are actually built into Colorado revised statutes.

Okay.

And this will be coming out with, an FAQ of frequently asked questions that we're gonna or we've already been working on preparing and ready to release if you guys pass this, that will direct, homeowners to those resources so that they can, read through the statutes themselves and verify that.

Okay. And we have the Lux Reservoir coming on line to do a lot of exterior watering. Correct?

Correct. So Lutz Reservoir, we plan to turn the reservoir on on April 20. That that will help with, diverting water away from the treatment plant, but it it in itself, it doesn't conserve water or anything. It just diverts it away from the treatment plant and uses untreated water for irrigation.

It won't offset enough to let people water three times a week. I I agree with all these other codes. I'm I'm concerned about the fact that we've made people put in nightshards. I'm one of them, and I like it. And by the way, I like my grass green. I I there's my bias. It takes three times a week to keep your grass pretty nice. So I'm just wondering if we have to go the rest of this, agree. Watering in the day and evaporating at that the rest of this, I agree with a 100%. Do we have to go to twice a week? Are are we in that dire of a situation with our water?

Yes. We we are. And and that's why we're bringing this to you all. You know, certainly, before we bring anything like this to you guys and put further restrictions on our residents and what they can or can't do with water, we make sure that, we we've done what we can. LUTs being one of them, certainly, but that that's not enough to offset.

If we approve this and, praise god, there's a whole bunch of spring rain, is this something we'll be able to reverse?

Yes. Absolutely. So the the resolution itself, grants the city manager, authorization to basically take that back. So if it doesn't stop raining and, we see a bunch of improvement in the conditions and, there's Three River and everybody's filling the reservoirs, certainly, the city manager could could take this back, and we would go back to, stage zero or normal operations.

Okay. Well, let me just say I don't like it, but I understand it, and I appreciate it's hard position for you to be in. Thank you for bringing it to us.

Certainly. Next,

council member Green. Thank you, mayor. Mister Olson, it seems like there's a loophole there because you say two days a week. Or it says three days, and no nothing is declared on Sunday. Does that mean everybody gets water on Sunday?

No. That that mean so let me go back to the so, no, there will be no watering on Sunday, and there is no watering on Thursday.

Okay. I

So you have the water on the days that are assigned to your address.

K. And and I think we may we better be very declarative on that one too. The other one is and I I see you said in a hose held by a person, that means you can't put it under your sprinkler and just have your sprinkler rotating there either. So

That that's correct. Oftentimes, hook up a hose, then they drag a sprinkler out into the yard. No. It it has to be held by a person.

Okay. So I I think it's gonna be very important that we make sure that our education materials focus on that and point that out too. And what are the fines?

Let me see if I have them in here.

I don't I think the attorney

wants

to.

I don't have them right in front of me. They'll certainly be on our FAQs. I don't wanna to try to

I ask this every year. You know?

On the spot. But they'll certainly be in our, education and outreach matters.

I'm I'm here to educate.

City attorney has the fines.

Please elaborate.

So so just a reminder, what's in code, right, the first offense, they get a written notification. You're not automatically fined. Your second offense is also a written notification. It's only after the third time that there is a fine. And the schedule of fines is $125 for a tap size that's between quarters and one inch or a fine of $500 for a tap size greater than one inch and up to four inches. And if it's larger than that, it is a fine of $1,500.

The third time. And they have to catch them in person, or can they just can they report them, or does it they has to have a visual actually catch them?

I'll direct that one back to the city attorney. I think that that's a that's an attorney question.

In order to have sufficient evidence in court, remember that it it has to be beyond a reasonable doubt. In your ideal scenario, the code enforcement person has observed the violation. However, sometimes video evidence or other types of evidence can be supplemented.

K. This is can. Doing my

part to educate out there.

That's And and just to to go beyond the fines, so if there were to be a fourth incident, that is a summons to appear in court. Thank you, city attorney.

Next, mayor pro tem.

Thanks. And I wanted to look at a little bit at some of our sources of water. So you indicated that Denver will be providing a 20% reduction in water that we, are able to acquire from them in Thornton, at 10%. How do those two figures play against our usual availability of water? How much are we losing for that?

Yeah. That's a great question. So from the city of Thornton, our agreement with them says that we can take 2,000,000 gallons per day. So 10% of that, and we're being reduced by 200,000 gallons. Denver water is 500,000 gallons a day, so 20% of that, and we're being reduced by a 100,000 gallons a day. So combine them together, and we're, reduced by 300,000 gallons a day.

Which is roughly what percentage of our we use 12,000,000 gallons a day at peak?

Yeah. On a on a peak summer day, we would be right about 12,000,000 gallons.

Something greater than 5%, less than 10% of our available water

Correct.

For the summer. Okay. Our water that we actually have rights to is not really on the surface and flowing down from nice mountain springs. Don't we usually suffer our biggest impact effectively following what Denver and Thornton experienced?

Yeah. Yeah. So the, yeah. Our our source water is groundwater. A lot of other cities like the city of Denver and city of Thornton, really their source water is surface water. So they're waiting for the water to come down from the mountain. They put it in reservoirs. And then from the reservoir, they pipe it into their water treatment plant. So we're a little bit different. We pump water out of the ground, send that to the treatment plant to drink, and then we use our surface water rights to, offset and make the river whole for the disruption that we took out of the ground.

So we still rely on surface water as a system, but we are not directly drinking it. So we are a little more resilient in the face of maybe, say, a single year drought, But we still wanna protect our what we have in the reservoirs. We still need that water. But if it turned into a two or three, we could be in a much dire situation than we are now.

Okay. So it it doesn't automatically get better for us for next year unless things change pretty significantly.

That's correct.

Okay. It looks like it's a great time to look at sod buyback programs and garden in a box.

Yes.

K. Thank you.

Oh, council member Green.

And just to clarify, there are two other stages we could get to. Do you anticipate that we might get to stage two or stage three? Stage two would be one day a week. Stage three would be absolutely no watering. Correct? Do we do we anticipate where if we're Correct. This doesn't do enough, we could get there?

Correct. So stage two is is down to one day per week. Stage three is basically an emergency situation where we are not watering outdoors. No. With what we're seeing right now and the water rights that we own, I I don't think that we will be getting into stage two or three.

Scott, so will you clear oh, we'll go to council member today, oh, and then I'll comment.

Sorry. I just thought of a question. Thank you. So if we're on three we are on restrictions already at normal operation stage zero.

Why?

I mean, why is that? That was because we didn't have the capacity because of our water treatment plant. So when is that gonna be done for the residents' information they may be wondering?

Yeah. I mean, we're we're actually looking at our water conservation and drought management plans right now. If you do recall, when when those were put in place, they were the the impetus behind it was because of the capacity at the treatment plan. Obviously, we're building a new one.

I realized that as I was asking my question.

Correct. But that also doesn't mean that we want to ignore water conservation as a so while it's something that we'll consider in our, water conservation plan update that we no longer have the restriction of the capacity at the plant. I'm not sure that it, is something that we want to do with our water resources to just ignore water conservation and say, you guys Sure. You're free to to irrigate as

much as

you want.

Away you know, get go do away with it forever. But at the same point, it's like, you know, we've tightened it down, tightened it down with it being because of capacity, and now it's because of weather conditions. And it would be really nice that once we if we get past where we're not in a drought situation and we can't do have the capacity that we might be able to go back to. Some maybe no restrictions.

Certainly. And what I'm

still trying to conserve because I'm that person, man. I'm standing in the shower waiting for the water to get hot with my little bucket of water to save water to water the dogs. Right?

Yeah.

I do sue silly little things like that. Right?

Yeah. Yeah. Certainly.

So I I I do like to conserve water. I'm not saying they don't, but I but but my point being is that it would be nice to not have to have any restrictions.

Yeah. Absolutely. And we'll be we'll be looking at that with the plan update. I will say what some of the other jurisdictions do instead of maybe a mandatory three days per week is is a voluntary. Almost every water provider has a voluntary, restriction in place over the summer to protect their water resources.

Alright. Scott, will yeah. Will you clarify the last few years? Just just to clarify to everybody in the public, we've been under stage one or stage zero last several years. When is the last time we were under stage one?

That's a good question. I don't know that. I've been here for a little over twelve years, and and I don't think in that time that we had been.

Okay.

I don't know if the city manager, Austin

Austin might have.

Well, we had a pretty significant drought in 2012 and that precipitated the writing of the current drought plan which was written in 2013. I'm not sure that we had defined drought stages prior to that.

So that means we haven't been under a two or three in our memory? Correct. Okay. I do remember in 2012, just as a resident reading about, you know, having to go down to two days a week or I think that's what we had to do. And what happened the next year was 2013. And what happened? All the floods. So that was September 2013. So who knows what's coming? But meanwhile, we do need to conserve a resource that, is basically our future and we have to go forward with that.

Unfortunately, that's just what we're up against. We're not trying to take people's rights away. That's not the intent, but we are trying to preserve the resource we desperately need that any community needs. So, we appreciate you coming up with a reasonable plan and hope to go forward with reasonable solutions here. I I got actually council member Carbajal that wants to speak too.

Yeah. I don't have a question, so I just wanted to wait till the end to add a comment. May I just, Are we making sure that we're doing a lot of collaborating when we think about the boxed gardens that are coming out of parks? And are we collaborating when it comes to the PD to make sure that enforcement is something that can happen? I know that we're putting parameters that we might not really be able to enforce. That's what it sounds like, which is just like but are we having those type of conversations as we start to implement this type of work?

Yeah. Absolutely. We are. We we've had a lot of discussions between enforcement and parks and and what parks can do as part of this. Obviously, they they're going to be impacted as well. It's not just we're asking our residents to do this. We're we need everybody that is a a water user to participate in this. So there's been a lot of interaction between the departments. And, really, the in the last several weeks, we've been working a lot with the public information office and communications department. We have a robust public communications campaign that we're going to enact tomorrow if if this is passed by you all.

So we we've done a lot of planning on this, and and we're prepared to to collaborate and get it out there to the public.

I figured as much. I just wanted to hear your plan. Thank you.

Certainly.

And then in addition to the members of the public that's already turned on their water, even though there there could be some freezes ahead, are they, you know, restricted from even watering until the April, or we we just let them go forward with the two days a week right now?

So if you pass the resolution today, it would be enacted immediately.

But what I'm saying is there are so a lot usually, I don't turn on my system till May, but there are folks that have already done that, and we're in the April. Are they able to still do their watering two days a week until, you know, until we get into normal watering season?

Yes. They are. So I I think what you're maybe getting at is there some communities that have said that you are not allowed to turn on your irrigation system? No. That's not something that that we feel we need to do as a city.

So Just clarifying that that they're able to still move forward even though we really shouldn't turn it on till the April at this point. Alright. Moving ahead. We got some motions. Council member Fiddler.

Thank you, mayor. Scott Naughton, thanks for the presentation. Appreciate it. I would move for the approval of item 10 b resolution declaring stage one drought conditions.

Thank you. And then mayor Pro Tem.

I am reluctantly seconding the motion.

I don't think we celebrate this, but we have a first and second to approve item 10 b. Roll call vote.

Council member Collins, how would you like to vote? Yay. I'm sorry. Yay? Yay. Thank you.

Motion passes nine to zero.

Thank you all. I appreciate it.

Alright. Thank you. Now we are on to reports. Go to reports by the Mayor. I'll be very brief.

I was listening to the CML policy committee, and I'll have a council member Snyder give a report on that since I could not stay on the whole meeting that last cycle. One thing kinda cool I was able to participate in a couple weeks ago was to be on a mock jury, and that's something that the DA's office invited myself and a few others to be a part of a couple Fridays ago, and that was kinda cool to do that. And then last week, I was in Florida and got to witness the Artemis two rocket launch, and that was amazing experience to go see that. I was about 13 miles away or so from the actual launch point and still got a pretty good view. So and just so you know, no tax dollars worth was paid for me to go out there.

I did that all myself. So, next, we're going to reports by department directors.

None this evening. Thank you.

None this evening. Reports by our city attorney.

None. Thank you, mayor.

None. Reports by our city manager, including boards and commissions.

Start with the infamous boards and commissions update. We do have two at large members and one alternate member of our Parks and Recreation Advisory Board open. We have one alternate for historic preservation commission. We have three members and two alternate members for the Brighton Housing Authority, but I know we have some applications pending there. We have one member for the district plan commission.

We have two youth members still for our sustainability advisory board. And while we have six members still for the downtown development authority, I know that Erin Herrera and team have been actively out promoting those opportunities, and I believe we have applications pending. So we're starting to dwindle the list a little more, as you as you can see. But if you're interested, please go to our website, and you will find more information on how you can apply to be a part of our boards and commissions. The only thing that I'll mention, two things.

I was fortunate enough to go to the celebration for our previous city attorney, Jack Bjorick's retirement. Jack was a wonderful city attorney, and he has moved to Texas. Can you believe that? He's moved out of Brighton and moved to Texas.

Oh, man.

But wishing him farewell, and good luck on all his future endeavors. It was great to participate there. And I want to remind the council that our Michael Jackson tribute band will be here on Friday at The Armory, 07:00. Wear your white socks and bring your glove if you have it, and I expect to see some of you dancing. So please don't disappoint.

Will you be on stage doing the moonwalk? Potentially. In in honor of warming up. Running around the moon here?

I've I've been warming up, so I I think I might be able to pull one off. Thank you.

Alright. Thank you. And to those that are listening online or the two remaining audience members, there are opportunities to serve right here in Brighton. So take advantage of that if you will. Next, we'll go into reports by the city council. I will start with council member Collins.

Thank you, mayor. It's hard to remember what I've done in the last three weeks since we haven't been here.

Parks and Rec

was last week, and we actually had some really great interviews for those three open spots. So I think those will be filled soon. Always looking for youth to join boards as well. And so I think those will be the two only spots open for the youth. Brighton Youth Commission is working really hard on Speak Week.

They are also getting ready to do interviews for openings for youth as well as adult openings. And then the SpeakWalk, which will be at the conclusion of Speak Week, which I mentioned earlier, is the twenty sixth of this month through the second. The walk is on the second at Carmichael Park, and there will be some festivities. They haven't been finalized yet. I know there'll be some food trucks, dessert trucks. That all starts at 05:00, and then the walk is at 07:15. Join if you can and support those fantastic youth in the finale of speak week. That's all I've got.

Thank you. And that's a great way to support the youth and support a great cause of be part of Speak Week and go on the walk. I've done it in past years. I will be traveling that weekend, so I won't we'll be doing that this cycle, but we'll likely do that in the future again. Council member Snyder.

Thank you, mayor. As you said, I did attend the CML policy meeting. And once again, the state would like to make home rule cities, statutory cities, and take all our power away from us. They're trying a lot, but we're very fortunate really to be part of CML. We've got 87 cities involved.

We have some very good lobbyists that are fighting for us. They don't always win, but they get modifications, and we do get some wins. I'm not gonna go every over everything they discussed, but there were a few things that were extremely interesting. Health services districts, they've got some representatives trying to approve them to be able to do housing, affordable housing, and bypass all the regulations. And they voted forty seven zero to oppose that.

We don't want people to be able to just bypass regulations and tell us what they're going to do. And they also don't wanna modify their service plan. They they don't wanna do anything. They just well, yeah, they do wanna do something, whatever they wanna do without permission. So we're we're trying to prevent that.

Also in housing, they want to adjust the statewide housing funds, and they came up with this formula where they take three years of your housing permits and multiply that by 10% or 20% and make that your new requirement for affordable housing, which would really make it almost impossible for 50% of the cities to meet the requirements. They're asking to amend that to where they have a maximum number so they can't just come to us and say, well, you know, you built a 100 units a year for the last three years times three times 20. Give us all those units this year. So they they are they're not opposing the the amendment, but they're they're trying to get it modified. Lot splitting.

This one just blows me away. They want they want lot splitting to be an administrative item. Council doesn't have anything to do with it and just allow them to split lots down to 800 square feet, which would extremely damage our ability to control growth and and community size. So they voted 49 to one to oppose that, and, hopefully, we'll get and that's still in committee. They're gonna try to get that to not even come out of committee.

Let's see what else they got in here that's really important. Oh, the motor vehicle stunt driving and takeover penalties. We don't have a big problem with this in Denver or in Brighton, but these kids will go take over a whole city street or something, and they're proposing some really strict regulations and penalties for that. And I don't really know why they oppose this. They have new marijuana clubs.

They want to serve THC beverages. The state put some really strict requirements on the amount of THC that could be allowed in those beverages, but they voted 26 to two to oppose them even serving any THC beverages. So we'll see where that goes. Traffic safety near schools, this could affect us because they wanna make some really strict requirements about traffic signs much more than normal, which would cost us a lot of money to do this signage. So they're trying to get them to amend this because it's nonfunded.

They they're not gonna give us any money for this. They just want us to put 200 yards away. They want us to start having different signs all the way in and out of school districts. So it's really it's overkill is what it is. So anyway, those are the main highlights. And like I say, we do have very good lobbyists that are fighting for us and trying to keep our rights to decide what we think we should do in our schools zones, what we think we should do with our marijuana laws, but we'll see how we fare in the end.

They also wanna bring school zones down to 10 miles an hour.

Yeah. They wanna bring them all down to 10 miles an hour, which, you know, some I know one of the high schools over, it's a main street. They bring it down to 25. I think that's appropriate. But 10 miles an hour?

I mean Right.

You know, you're gonna back traffic up. It's horrible. So yeah. And then after that, I went on vacation for two weeks and ignored y'all in my job, and it was wonderful. So

thank you.

Very good. Next, council member Fiddler.

Thank you, mayor. Since last week, man, it seems like it's been a minute. I attended the Lac Bui Suburban meeting, and it lasted eleven minutes. Oh. Not a lot to report there. It was very over very quickly. I wanna thank, city manager Martinez and chief Domenico for help with, code enforcement in fuller states. The president reached out about that, and that that's a different three different three different PUD's out there to sort through. So thanks for taking that on and helping that resident who was concerned. I would be remiss if I didn't mention the Almost Home Port Forward event on Sunday, the nineteenth, from eleven to two.

That is the replacement for the spring out of homelessness homelessness event, new and different, multi course brunch and drinks. Pretty excited about that. And for those of you who are board members, I did not make it home before I came over tonight to give you your, your raffle tickets, so my my apologies for that. Nope. And then last but not least, just so much fun to celebrate youth tonight in terms of the mayors and commissioners award winners. Those students that were here is fun to celebrate them, and then great to see all of our student wrestling athletes as they continue to really do really well in the city of Brighton. And that Tilly Ruby is a future Olympian, I think. Yeah. So

Sure. Cool. Next, mayor Pro Tem.

Thank you. I was twelve minutes late to the Lac Courteous Tour Board meeting that lasted eleven minutes. Sorry. I did not make it to that one. I did, however, make it to I think we had four special meetings for the Brighton Housing Authority last month. The primary news coming out of that really is that we're on target for a May groundbreaking for the Ravenfield Nice. Senior housing development over at 27th And Purcell. Very excited about that project. The street takeover bill died.

Did it?

Yep. That one failed. However, something new and frightening has been introduced to modernize the regional transportation district and reduce whatever letter of the alphabet k is down to five districts for elected officials. So we at the outside edge of RTD would effectively have no representation, continue to pay all of our our money into it, and get, less response than we get today. So senate bill, one fifty is one of those that if you feel like contacting your senators and helping to get that one killed, this would be a good one to take action on.

And, yes, we continue to watch, our state legislature, made up of many, many former municipal, leaders, forget what it's like to be a municipal leader and decide that all decisions can be made under the gold dome. That's really all I have for today.

Alright. Next council member today.

Well, when I get to go after

you. I

don't have a whole lot. So I did I was able to attend, virtually the, doctor Cog meeting, and I'm a little bit of a fish out of water at that meeting. But they did talk about did talk about housing, their housing strategy. And, of course, it's the the conversation, topic of a conversation in many areas, but did talked about affordable housing and and didn't really get a whole lot more out of that except for that they talked about it. Sorry.

And then the other interesting thing they talked about was regional transportation operations and signal timing. So they were talking about throughout the region light signals and how they're timed and how to what's the word I want? Make them better so that there's, you know, less waste and fuel and, yeah, synchronizing. I thought that was very interesting, and that's something that they're they're working on. And then the last probably third of the meeting, they spent talking about going on a a peer exchange that I'm not quite aware about. But, there was a lot of, talk about that that didn't really pertain to me. But there that you might be able to talk a little more about that one. But that was it was very interesting.

I'm glad I got to go.

Yeah. The peer exchange is just to see another cog in another region and compare notes, and so, that's all that is.

That's all I got.

Next, council member Green.

Oh, thank you, mayor. I went to the e four seventy operations meeting, and we have a e four seventy full board meeting on Thursday. I also attended the NADA meeting where we got to talk about that front range passenger rail.

Cocoa.

Called Cocoa. Yeah. Really exciting, and there'll be no stops anywhere near us, but I'm sure they'll be yeah. Exactly. We're in Adams County at all, and so there's plenty of people up in arms and frustrated with that. But, you know and and all this talk, this is gonna be a really thriller of a weekend. It's not just celebrating the king of pop, and I hear that it's bad. But, I mean, the bad that's good. So it's a it's a good bad. But it's also your chance to get the lead out because Led Zeppelin will be playing the Led Zeppelin tribute band will be playing Saturday night, so it's a twofer.

So, hey, get on out to the armory. And then next month, yeah, the eagles are gonna be here, and I heard it's better than the spear. And then Crazy Train, that Ozzy Osbourne tribute that I think is sponsored by BNSF, and that is all that I have here. Wow.

Council member Worth.

Thank you, mayor. I guess since our last meeting, the the primary thing, I've been to two VYC meetings, and to follow-up on, council member, Collins comments, they are busily working, getting ready for speak week. These kids one thing that that really does is is I mean, not only do they they get ready to pull off a great event again, but it really lets them build skills required. Mean, you got you know, they're they're they're working in teams, and so the teams have to work together. They gotta work with each other.

They're coordinating with other teams and trying to put everything together, and they're implementing a major project. And, you know, oddly enough that helps to build skills that they'll be able to use the rest of their lives. And so it's it's really fun to watch these guys and and work with them on that. They're also working much more diligently on assigning boards and commissions now that the new members are in and you were getting students that are able to check their schedules and see what boards they might be able to serve on, which ones they are interested on or in, and then they and now getting assigned to those boards. So that I should I think we'll be seeing them on pretty much all the boards very soon.

And then follow-up on the recruiting. They're recruiting not only youth, but also adults for the youth commission. So, there's always been, six adult positions on that, commission, and, they need kids. You gotta have a you gotta have a desire to work with amazing kids. I can't imagine not wanting that, but, you know, you just it's it's really an awesome awesome position to be in to work with these with the youth.

Additionally, we got I was able to just drop by and unfortunately just introduce myself and thank a regional representative from HUD that came to our the Brighton Housing Authority. He was intrigued by some of the programs that were going on. And I as I understand it, HUD has eight regions throughout The US. Our regional director came out here and and he and and a an assistant tagged along. They went on a tour, looking at a number of the, existing or future, housing authority projects. So that's think we should feel honored that they came to see what's going on and what they're doing right with that. So, anyway, I think that's all I've got for now.

Thank you. I'm glad you mentioned the HUD director and I or the HUD regional director. Next, council member Carbahal.

So many reports. It's good to be at the end of the table. Thank you, Rhiannon, for the Parks and Rec update. I just wanna like, I was excited to have Josie in the audience tonight, and thank you for asking me to read that proclamation. Josie was a youth commissioner. Right? And she has spent tons of time here. Really cool. Also, CASA is something that's dear to my heart. And so if you don't get to go to the light of hope on May 1, you're really missing out. And that is a great event and a great organization. So that would be my only plug.

Great. Thank you all for your reports and representing our community. Next executive session, mayor pro tem.

Thank you. I have two motions to make, so we'll have to vote on each one of them separately, and then we'll go into a single, meeting. The first one is a motion I I move that we recess for an executive session pursuant to Colorado revised statutes section twenty four six four zero two subsection four f one and Brighton, Charter section five dot four subsection c five for personnel matters.

We have a first to go into executive session. Do we have a second? Council member Fiddler.

Allegedly, yes.

Alright. We have a first and second. Go ahead and vote. Roll call vote.

There we go.

Council member Collins, how

would you like to vote?

Yay.

Motion passes eight to one that takes away our unanimous night.

But I like the fact that council member Collins votes are all enthusiastic.

Yes. Yay.

And then now 13 b, and we'll go in for both.

No. Not yet. So I also move that we recess to an executive session pursuant to Colorado revised statutes section twenty four six four zero two subsection four b and Brighton Charter section five dot four subsection c three for attorney client privilege and to receive legal advice.

And then council member Fiddler.

Thank you, mayor. I'll second.

We have appropriate first and second to go into executive session under 13 b as well. Roll call vote.

Councilmember Collins, how would

you like to vote?

Yay. Thank you.

Motion passes eight to one. We will go into executive session under both items and then return to the open meeting. For the record, at the first executive session, the participants were the current City Council, City Attorney Calderon and Director of Human Resource, Kevin Young. The participants in the second Executive Session were the current City Council, City Manager Martinez and City Attorney Calderon. For the record, if any persons who participated in this executive session believes that any substantial discussion of any matters not included in the motion to go into the executive session occurred during the executive session or that any improper action occurred during this executive session in violation of the open meetings law.

I would ask that you state your concern for the record. Seeing none, I have a quick announcement. After a two and six start, the Rockies won their third game in a row. We are adjourned.