City Council - Regular Meeting

0:01 – 0:38•JKJan Kulmann

All right, good evening, everyone. I'm going to call to order the 1,637th regular meeting of the Thornton City Council. And before we begin, just like to remind everyone in the audience to please turn off or silence all of your electronic devices. The audience seating area is provided for observing council meetings from a seated position only. Audience members wishing to stand must stand in the aisle along the rear wall opposite the council dais. Also, if there's anyone in the audience who needs assistance in listening to and or participating in the meeting and has not indicated so on the sign

0:40 – 0:52•JAJohn Alge

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

0:56 – 1:19•JKJan Kulmann

Item three is a moment of silence. Please join me in a moment of silence. Thank you. Item 4 is the Land Acknowledgement. Councilmember Alagi, would you please read the Land Acknowledgement this evening?

1:20 – 2:32•JAJohn Alge

Thank you, Madam Mayor. The City of Thornton respectfully acknowledges the land on which we stand is the traditional territory of the Apache, Arapaho, Cheyenne, Comanche, Kiowa, Lakota, Navajo, Pueblo, Shoshone, and Southern Ute tribes and nations who were the original stewards of this land We honor the history, culture, and contributions both past and present of these indigenous nations and tribes. We pay respect to their ancestors, elders, and present-day community members and extend our gratitude to the indigenous peoples for their ongoing care and stewardship of the land, water, and resour

2:33•JKJan Kulmann

Thank you. Item 5 is a roll call of council. Clerk, would you please call the roll of council?

2:49•JKJan Kulmann

Core Miss President, Your Honor. Thank you. Item 6 is approval of the agenda. Are there any staff changes to the agenda this evening?

2:58 – 3:10•JKJan Kulmann

Council, are there any changes to the agenda? Is there a motion to approve the agenda as presented? Second. Approval of the agenda as presented has been moved and seconded. Is there any discussion? Hearing none, clerk, please call the council.

3:20 – 3:33•JKJan Kulmann

Thank you. Item 7 is Presentations. Item 7A is a resolution declaring August 26, 2026 as Women's Equality Day in the City of Thornton, Colorado. Mayor Pro Temiola, would you please introduce this item and read it in its entirety?

3:35 – 4:22•RARoberta Ayala

Yes, thank you. I'd like to introduce the resolution declaring August 26 as Women's Equality Day in the City of Thornton, Colorado. whereas women in the United States have continuously worked to gain full rights and privileges, public or private, legal or institutional, as citizens of the United States, and whereas women in every state and every culture and religious group work to secure women's rights to vote, and whereas Congress has designated August 26 in the date the date the 19th Amendment was certified as Women's Equality Day, and whereas recognizing Women's Equality Day as a day of cel

4:25•JKJan Kulmann

Thank you. It's been moved and seconded to approve the resolution. I'll open it for discussion. Mayor Pro Tem, you have the option to go first as you made the motion.

4:32 – 5:29•RARoberta Ayala

Yeah, thank you. This is always an important issue to me for a lot of different reasons. But being in public service over the last three and a half-ish years, I've just realized it even more that being an elected official as a woman is sometimes one of the most difficult things I've decided to do. A lot of times, you know, your voice isn't heard as well as it could be in many circles. And so I just always like to make sure that we recognize this day, not only for the workplace of elected officials, but workplaces all over the country. And I guess I bring up work more than anything else, being

5:30•JKJan Kulmann

Any additional discussion? I'll just say well said. Mayor Potem, would you please pull the council?

5:43 – 5:58•JKJan Kulmann

Thank you. Item 7B is a resolution declaring the week of September 6th through 12th, 2026 as National Suicide Prevention Week in the month of September as National Suicide Prevention Month in the City of Thornton, Colorado. Council Member Martinez, would you please introduce this item and read it in its entirety?

5:59 – 8:46•JMJustin Martinez

yes i'd like to introduce a resolution declaring the week of september six through twelve twenty twenty six is national suicide prevention week in the month of september is national suicide prevention month in the city of thornton colorado whereas suicide prevention is a national event held in September each year to draw attention to and raise awareness of suicides and to acknowledge the grief felt by families and friends remembering those who've died by suicide. And whereas all too often, those who suffer from depression and suicidal thoughts feel they can't discuss those feelings because of

8:48•JKJan Kulmann

Second. Second. It's been moved and seconded to approve the resolution. I'll open it for discussion. Council Member Martinez, you have the option to go first as you made the motion.

8:56 – 9:57•JMJustin Martinez

Yeah, I appreciate that this is being brought to the council to officially sponsor and read as a resolution. You know, we've all, I bet almost everybody in here has been impacted by suicide by somebody in their lives. It's a truly tragic event that is spread throughout the community. And I think that I really like the wording in this resolution because it focuses a lot on how communities can prevent suicide. And the stronger our community is, the more tools that we have available to help our friends and our neighbors when they suffer through anxiety and depression and all the other causes of s

9:58•JKJan Kulmann

Any additional discussion? I'll let go what I said earlier. Well said, council member. Would you please pull the council?

10:10 – 10:58•JKJan Kulmann

Thank you. Item eight is audience participation. This is a time for members of the community to speak on any item that is not on the agenda as a public hearing or going to be on a public hearing in the future. Pursuant to City Council's Rules of Order and Procedure, speaking time is limited to three minutes per person with a one-hour limit on this segment of the agenda. In-person speakers will be heard first, followed by remote speakers registered before the end of the in-person comment segment. Residents of the City, as indicated on the sign-up sheet, will be given preference in the order hea

11:02 – 11:42•JKJan Kulmann

Thank you. So again, in just a moment, each speaker will be given up to three minutes to speak, and this segment of the agenda is limited to one hour. Please make sure that you watch the light on the podium. When it turns yellow and you hear a single beep, you'll need to wrap up your comments. And when it turns red and you hear multiple beeps, your time is up, and I'll have to interrupt you as your three minutes are over. When you are called, those in person, please come to the podium. Those who indicated on the webinar registration that you wish to speak will be allowed to unmute and speak wh

18:28•JKJan Kulmann

Thank you. Would you please call the next person?

24:29•JKJan Kulmann

Thank you. Would you please call the next person?

25:14•JKJan Kulmann

Okay. So we'll have to hold your comments for the public hearing portion of it. Okay. Thank you. Would you please call the next person?

28:28•JKJan Kulmann

Would you please call the next person Mike Kelly?

31:47•JKJan Kulmann

Thank you. Would you please call the next person?

38:47 – 39:06•JKJan Kulmann

Thank you. And that was the last person that was signed up. Is there anyone in the audience that wanted to speak that didn't know you needed to sign up? If so, you can come to the podium now. All right, we will move on to Item 9, which is Council Comments and Communications. We're going to mix it up a little and start with Ward 2 tonight. Council Member Alge.

39:07 – 45:29•JAJohn Alge

All right, thank you, Madam Mayor. So, good evening. So, normally I would speak about events in the community that I have attended. However, this evening and our next council meeting on September 8th, I will utilize my council comments specifically to the topic and concern that my fellow neighbors are voicing to us out of respect for them. That issue is data centers. I will start by thanking all of you for speaking to us this evening. I will always value and protect public comment. There is one event, though, that I did attend that I want to talk about. So this past Saturday, along with my col

45:30 – 49:45•RARoberta Ayala

Mayor Pro Temayala? Thank you. We've had a few busy weeks here in Thornton, and I wanted to share a few things that kind of stood out to me over the last few weeks. One of them was attending the Business Appreciation Awards at Malibu Jacks in the Thornton Town Center. It's always fun to go back into that building or in the space of Malibu Jacks because it's Having grown up here, I remember when it was a movie theater, and I wish it still was, but I'm glad that we have something else to enjoy, too. It was great to recognize the people who take the risk of opening a business and choosing to call

49:47 – 51:46•CSCherish Salazar

Good evening. While other council members are always talking about the city events they attend, I'm staying focused on what matters most, tackling the real problems facing our community and delivering results for our residents. Recently, I had a resident in Ward 1 contact me about huge semi-tractors and whole rows of commercial trucks parked right along their streets night after night. We all know we need trucks to deliver goods and keep our economy moving, but using quiet neighborhood streets as free overnight parking lots is against Thornton City law and for good reason. Our city code strict

51:47 – 58:18•JMJustin Martinez

Yeah. You know, I want to thank Council Member Salazar for bringing up some of the issues. You know, I've come across them as well in Ward 1, especially with the commercial vehicles. So, you know, I encourage our staff to continue to enforce these code provisions because I can tell you firsthand it's causing a lot of distress for many of our residents. So thank you, Council Member Salazar, for always having a community-first mindset. I want to talk about a couple of things. First, you know, as many of you know, I serve on the Denver Regional Council of Governments Board, which is a board of re

58:22 – 1:00:54•DMDrew Morris

Good evening everyone. Thank you everyone who showed up to share info about data center moratoriums. Appreciate the engagement in the study or the update session and then here tonight. I think to be clear, everyone on this council is for regulating data centers and protecting our communities. The legal method by which we do that is the question So I do appreciate the input and the ideas and open consider all voices in my in really all decisions and To Jacob's point, you know, I'll continue to have an opinion on every dollar spent in our city I'm sure there'll be times where we'll disagree, but

1:00:58 – 1:03:52•DADavid Acunto

Thank you, Mayor. I believe I have submitted a photo just for my comments. Thank you. Just want to point out there is something very beautifully ironic and hard to miss about this flyer. Generic slogans, repeated wording, and awkward phrasing. It's an AI-generated flyer distributed through social media protesting the data centers that make both of these issues possible. which kind of brings me to, there's a lot of scary news about data centers, but the reality is a data center is a physical representation of computer infrastructure, or otherwise known as the cloud that everybody uses on a dail

1:03:57 – 1:07:22•DBDevin Byrd

Thank you, Madam Mayor. I want to start off tonight by thanking Tammy, our city attorney. Tammy has served as a city attorney since 2021. Tonight will mark her final city council meeting for the city of Thornton. And this is not a small job that she has taken on for our city. She's advised council, staff, our boards through some very hard questions. She's been there for a lot of stuff where we have to seek tons of advice, and she's been great at giving that advice out to us. So Tammy, thank you for your service for the city. I wish you all the best. we're definitely going to miss you from the

1:07:24 – 1:11:45•JKJan Kulmann

Thank you. So just a few updates from me this evening. The city is currently advertising for openings with our Planning Commission and Board of Adjustment for Ward 2. The deadline to apply is August 30th. Parks and Open Space Advisory Commission for Ward 1, and the deadline to apply for this is September 21st. Building Code Advisory Board for Ward 1, and the deadline to apply is September 24th. And Election Commission for Ward 2, and the deadline for this one is September 24th. And all of these deadlines are at 5 p.m. So if you're interested in serving with the community, please put your appli

1:12:58 – 1:14:07•JKJan Kulmann

But you still get to work for us tonight, so we'll keep going. Item 10 is quasi-judicial public hearings. And before we begin tonight's land use hearings, I will briefly explain Council's role in the quasi-judicial process. For matters such as development applications, site-specific rezonings, and similar requests, the Council acts in a quasi-judicial capacity. In this role, we are legally required to base our decisions solely on the evidence and testimony presented during the public hearing. And because of that, we must avoid ex parte communications, which are any discussions about the merits

1:14:16 – 1:14:40•JKJan Kulmann

Item 10a is a public hearing concerning findings of fact, annexation, zoning amendment, and conceptual site plan of land generally located on the southwest corner of East 140th Avenue and Washington Street, Creekside Gardens Annexation. Public hearing is now open at 8.18 p.m. Kara Stoller, Principal Planner, will present this item. Please make sure you state your name and address and whether or not you were sworn. And if you have not, please respond to the clerk after she gives the oath.

1:32:14 – 1:32:33•DMDrew Morris

That question about the CSP Maybe this is First, how much green space is allocated on site? Like parks and I know that the CSP itself, it seemed like there was a green, kind of quite a bit of park area. Do we know that amount?

1:32:50 – 1:33:03•DMDrew Morris

Got it. This is going to be my other question. Is there a minimum in that you answered that? There is a minimum requirement on site for the green space? And that can't be amended through cash in lieu?

1:33:30 – 1:33:51•DMDrew Morris

Sure. So where my question comes from, or the concern it stems from, is it looks like on the CSP it would be very easy to get rid of a lot of green space to make it a continuous parking lot throughout that entire development. And I think that would be stepping backwards in terms of what we're trying to see in our city. So is there a way to guarantee that that doesn't happen at this site?

1:34:14•DMDrew Morris

Okay, so will we have a say in that if it changes negatively?

1:34:36 – 1:35:03•DBDevin Byrd

So my question is more for the developer itself. One of the slides showed a breakdown of the square footage that need to be used in lot B for 2,000 square foot for commercial property. It looks like it's in the middle of the actual apartment complex. Do we have any kind of business in mind that's gonna be going into that or is it gonna be more of like a walkable kind of type business? I'm just kind of curious for general knowledge.

1:35:47 – 1:36:08•JAJohn Alge

Um, thank you, madam mayor. Uh, thank you for the presentation. Um, so 2 questions for the developer 1st, don't mirror what council member Morris said about the, I noticed in the, in the slide that there is a little bit of green space on the South end of the property, but it doesn't seem like it's a park. So, is that what's the purpose of that? And could we expand on that too?

1:36:39•JAJohn Alge

Okay, and my second question is the on the east end of the property we have the 166 unit senior housing. Is that independent living?

1:37:03•JAJohn Alge

So it would probably be, in that case, it would be independent. Independent, yes, sorry. Okay, thank you very much for the answers. Thanks for being here tonight.

1:37:12 – 1:37:23•DMDrew Morris

Back on the green space question. So our code is 20% minimum based on your CSP right now What percentage are we seeing of green space and parks? Do you have that as an estimate?

1:37:50•DMDrew Morris

You mean like the future CSP documents that are approved?

1:38:12 – 1:38:50•DMDrew Morris

The basis for the question is I'm looking at a really nice CSP with a lot of green space. And if that's 20%, that's awesome, because I know that's what's going to happen. But if that's, you know, 35%, and we end up taking out a lot because of market demand, things like that, and we actually get a different product at the end of the day with a sea of asphalt, I think that, again, is the wrong direction for the site. So what I'm trying to get at is how do we guarantee that we get the green space that we're looking for?

1:39:28 – 1:40:06•JKJan Kulmann

Thank you Any additional questions from council at this time? All right, I'm going to open the hearing for public comment miss long Do we have anyone sign up to speak in favor of or in opposition to the proposed development? We have two individuals signed up Thank you, so in just a moment Each speaker will be given up to three minutes to speak. Make sure that you watch the light on the podium. When it turns yellow and you hear a single beep, you'll need to wrap up your comments. When it turns red and you hear multiple beeps, your time is up and I'll have to interrupt you as your three minutes are over. When you are called up, those in person, please come up to the podium and state your name, address, and whether you were sworn for the record. Ms. Long, who is the first person signed up to speak?

1:40:18•JKJan Kulmann

She's shaking her head. I believe she just wanted to speak at the first comment.

1:42:36•JKJan Kulmann

You can ask a question. The process is that I take the questions down and then I'll follow up after.

1:43:50 – 1:44:04•JKJan Kulmann

Thank you. That was the last person signed up to speak. Is there anyone in the audience that wanted to speak but didn't know you needed to sign up? If so, you can come to the podium now. You have to state your name and address and whether or not you were sworn, please. And if not, we can get you sworn in.

1:45:44 – 1:46:09•JKJan Kulmann

Thank you. All right, so we have a couple of questions, I think, for the applicant and probably staff to address concerning the water drainage and the potential retention pond. Can you talk a little bit about the approval process for that, how it looks, and how it would be maintained long term? I recognize that there's a future analysis and design that has to be done, but talk through what that looks like so that the community members can hear about it. And you'll have to state your name and address and whether or not you respond.

1:47:51•JKJan Kulmann

Thank you. And then a follow up question related to the sidewalk. Can you, I think this is a staff question related to ADA compliance requirements for the width of a sidewalk.

1:51:01 – 1:51:20•JKJan Kulmann

Any additional staff presentation or presentation from the applicant before I close the public hearing Councilmember Morris Actually, you know it that'll come later not this section. So if we close the public hearing, this is the time for questions.

1:51:25 – 1:51:58•DMDrew Morris

I have a question on, it would be actually A4, so not this. Oh, got it, okay. Can we talk about planning area C on site? I know it's a floodplain. I think I saw in the presentation somewhere in the documents that there was potential for self-storage units. And I wanted to ask if we can not do that somehow. And is that, how do we go about it?

1:51:58•JKJan Kulmann

Record that as a use by right for that location?

1:52:21•DMDrew Morris

Okay, so the CSP doesn't call for that, right?

1:53:01•DMDrew Morris

So it's allowed in Planning Area A, but it's not planned per the CSP?

1:53:10•DMDrew Morris

Okay. Is it, to the Mayor's point, is it a by-right use?

1:53:20•DMDrew Morris

Okay. So there's nothing we can do about that. If it changes the cell storage, is there anything we can do to prevent that?

1:54:20•JKJan Kulmann

Yeah, so I guess a follow up question to the applicant. Would that be a consideration for a condition of approval to remove that use from the CSP?

1:56:41•JKJan Kulmann

Does that answer your question? Council member Morris.

1:56:45 – 1:57:33•DMDrew Morris

It does. I'm not, and I do appreciate the response, and I really appreciate the vision of the site, and the CSP is exciting as it is, especially for that location. I do have significant concern if it changes to self-storage on the site, because This is like a gateway to our city. And there are a lot of highly desirable uses around that site. And I feel like self-storage could shift that perception. And I just want to avoid that for our city. So how do we do that? I'm not sure what the legal way to do that is, but you're telling me that that's not part of the plan. It could be explored, but it'

1:57:36•JKJan Kulmann

Did you want clarification from our attorney?

1:57:41•DMDrew Morris

Sure. I'm going to put Tammy to work. It's her last one, so we've got to...

1:58:14 – 1:58:30•JKJan Kulmann

Before I close the public hearing, I want to make sure that if that is the intention, that the applicant has the option to consider and ask for a continuance. or if Council Member Morris is happy with the response and doesn't want to make that motion.

1:58:30•DMDrew Morris

Yeah, I'm happy with the response, thank you.

1:58:33 – 1:58:44•JKJan Kulmann

Okay, just making sure procedurally we are covered. All right, if there are no additional questions, I will go ahead and close the public hearing at 9.02 p.m. Council Member Morris, would you please introduce item 10A1?

1:58:48 – 1:59:19•DMDrew Morris

Introducing a resolution adopting certain findings of fact for the annexation of certain unincorporated territory of approximately 26 acres of land situated in the southeast quarter of Section 22, Township 1 South, Range 68 West of the 6th Principal Meridian, County of Adams, State of Colorado, generally located on the southwest corner of East 140th Avenue and Washington Street in assigning the Annex Property Award for Creekside Gardens Annex Station. And I move for its approval. Second.

1:59:20•JKJan Kulmann

Thank you. Approval of the resolution has been moved and seconded. Is there any additional discussion? Council Member Morris, you have the option to go first as you made the motion.

1:59:28 – 1:59:58•DMDrew Morris

I'll just reiterate, I appreciate the live work options I see on site. It's a unique element bringing to the city, and I think it'd be a welcome addition. The green space that I see on the CSP is welcome as well. It's an important part, a desire of our community. And I do appreciate that you guys added the more robust pedestrian crossing, because I had imagined living on that site would provide tremendous opportunity for walkability and bikeability. So I think we should latch on to that and enhance it. So thank you.

2:00:00 – 2:00:31•JKJan Kulmann

Any additional discussion? I'll just add as well, I very much appreciate the work that Evergreen does on these properties and the fact that you take the considerations of the community members, whether they live in Thornton or not, into consideration as you're working through the retention pond, working with staff on where the streetlights are going to go and how they're going to angle. I know that the public comment will still be considered during the rest of this analysis. So thank you very much for bringing this forward and I'm happy to support it. Would you please pull the council?

2:00:38•JKJan Kulmann

Thank you. Council Member Kunta, would you please introduce Item 10A2?

2:00:43 – 2:01:13•DADavid Acunto

To introduce an ordinance concerning the annexation of approximately 26 acres of land situated in southeast quarter of Section 22, Township 1, South Range 68 West of the 6th Principal Meridian County of Adams, State of Colorado, generally located on the southwest corner of East 140th Avenue and Washington Street, and assigning the annexed property to Ward 4, Creekside Gardens Annexation. And I move for its approval. Second.

2:01:13•JKJan Kulmann

Thank you. Approval of the ordinance on first reading has been moved and seconded. Is there any additional discussion? Clerk, please call the council.

2:01:28•JKJan Kulmann

Thank you. Council Member Morris, would you please introduce Item 10A3?

2:01:32 – 2:01:51•DMDrew Morris

Introducing an ordinance concerning a zoning amendment with an associated overall development plan and plan development standards for approximately 29 acres of land generally located on the southwest corner of East 140th Avenue and Washington Street. Creekside Gardens annexation. And I move for its approval. Second.

2:01:51•JKJan Kulmann

Thank you. Approval of the ordinance on first reading has been moved and seconded. Is there any discussion? Clerk, please call the council.

2:02:04•JKJan Kulmann

Thank you. Council Member Byrd, would you please introduce Item 10A4?

2:02:09 – 2:02:25•DBDevin Byrd

Yes, I'd like to introduce a resolution concerning a conceptual site plan for a mixed-use development on approximately 26 acres of land, generally located at the southwest corner of East 140th Avenue and Washington Street, and ask for its approval. Second.

2:02:25•JKJan Kulmann

Thank you. Approval of the resolution has been moved and seconded. Is there any discussion? Clerk, please call the council.

2:02:39 – 2:02:56•JKJan Kulmann

Thank you. Item 11 is legislative public hearings, and there are no legislative public hearings this evening. Item 12 is staff reports. Item 12A is the monthly financial report for June 2026. And I'll turn this over to Kim Newhart, our finance director, and Erica Sena, budget and operations director, to present this item.

2:22:17 – 2:22:40•JKJan Kulmann

Apparently, you answered all of our questions and were very thorough. Thank you very much. Item 13 is the consent calendar. Is there any member of council who would like to remove an item from the consent calendar? Hearing none, is there a motion to approve the consent calendar as presented? Thank you. Approval of the consent calendar as presented has been moved and seconded. Clerk, please read the appropriate titles into the record and poll the council.

2:23:34•JKJan Kulmann

Thank you. Item 14 is action items. Item 14A is an ordinance amending Chapter 6, Animals of the City Code. I turn this over to Tansy Hayward, City Manager, to present this item.

2:24:41 – 2:25:01•RARoberta Ayala

Mayor Pro Tem Ayala? There's just one question not related to this specific piece of language, but a resident reached out wanting to make sure that the portion 6-42 isn't going to be changed at all, and it's not going to be included in this specific change.

2:25:15•RARoberta Ayala

Okay, great. Thank you. Just wanted that stated for the record.

2:25:17•JKJan Kulmann

All right. Mayor Pro Tem Ayala, would you please introduce Item 14A for second reading?

2:25:23•RARoberta Ayala

Yes, thank you. I'd like to introduce an ordinance amending Chapter 6, Animals of the City Code, and I move for its approval.

2:25:32•JKJan Kulmann

Thank you. Approval of the ordinance on second reading has been moved and seconded. Is there any discussion? Clerk, please call the council. Council, please cash your votes.

2:25:44 – 2:26:18•JKJan Kulmann

Thank you. Items 14B and C are an ordinance submitting to the registered electors of the City of Thornton, Colorado, proposed amendments to Section 4.5 of the Thornton City Charter, regarding vacancies to require that any member of the Thornton City Council, including the mayor, shall be deemed to have resigned and vacated the member's office upon formally declaring candidacy for any elected office other than Thornton City Council member or mayor and a resolution calling a special municipal election on November 3rd, 2026 for the purpose of submitting to the Thornton electors a proposed charter

2:27:01•JKJan Kulmann

Are there any questions from Council? Hearing none, Council Member Byrd, would you please introduce Item 14B for second reading?

2:27:09 – 2:27:37•DBDevin Byrd

Thank you, Madam Mayor. I'd like to introduce an ordinance submitting to the registered electors of the City of Thornton, Colorado, proposed amendments to Section 4.5 of the Thornton City Charter regarding vacancies to require that any member of the Thornton City Council, including the mayor, shall be deemed to have resigned and vacated the member's office upon formally declaring candidacy for any elected office other than Thornton City Council member or mayor. And I ask for its approval. Second.

2:27:38•JKJan Kulmann

Thank you. Approval of the ordinance on second reading has been moved and seconded. I will open it for discussion. Is there any discussion? Clerk, please call the council.

2:27:54•JKJan Kulmann

Thank you. Council Member Byrd, would you please introduce item 14C?

2:27:57 – 2:28:22•DBDevin Byrd

I would like to introduce a resolution calling for a special resolution municipal election on november 3rd 2026 for the purpose of submitting to the thornton electors a proposed charter amendment question and ask for its approval okay approval of the resolution has been moved and seconded is there any discussion clerk please call the council council please catch your votes

2:28:30 – 2:28:50•JKJan Kulmann

Thank you. Item 14 D is a resolution supporting the ballot question that city council has referred to the voters at the November 3rd, 2026 special municipal election to provide for an automatic vacancy and resignation upon a council member, including the mayor formally declaring candidacy for another elected office, not on the city council council member. Would you please introduce this item and read it in its entirety?

2:28:52 – 2:32:30•DADavid Acunto

I'd like to introduce a resolution supporting the ballot question that City Council has referred to the voters at November 3rd, 2026, special municipal election to provide an automatic vacancy and resignation upon a council member, including the mayor, formally declaring candidacy for an elected office not on City Council. Whereas Colorado Revised Statute 31-2-210 requires city council to submit any charter amendment it proposes to the city electors, and whereas pursuant to Colorado Revised Statute 1-45-117-1B3A, City Council may adopt a resolution taking a position of advocacy on a submitted

2:32:32•JKJan Kulmann

Thank you. It has been moved and seconded to approve the resolution. Is there any discussion? Council Member Acunto, you have the option to go first as you made the motion.

2:32:41•DADavid Acunto

I just want to say that was probably the most I've talked in almost seven years of being on this council. And I appreciate you allowing me to read that resolution.

2:32:53 – 2:33:43•JAJohn Alge

Thank you, Madam Mayor. You know, with respect to my colleagues in the majority on this issue, I voted no on the first reading two weeks ago, and I'm voting no tonight on these resolutions. The only reason I am voting no is because I have a disagreement with the date of the election. I still feel that we could do this election next year where it would be no cost to the city. As I said, beside from the date, you know, I'm in agreement. Otherwise, I do feel that since our neighbors do need to have a say, but not at extra cost. So that is the reason for my no votes from two weeks ago. And this ev

2:33:44•JKJan Kulmann

Any additional discussion? Please call the council.

2:33:55 – 2:34:07•JKJan Kulmann

Thank you. Item 14E is a resolution appointing Jessica Whitney as interim city attorney for the city of Thornton and approving the associated employment agreement. Council Member Alge, would you please introduce this item and read it in its entirety?

2:34:08 – 2:35:09•JAJohn Alge

Thank you, Madam Mayor. I will be honored to do this tonight. So I would like to introduce a resolution appointing Jessica Whitney as interim city attorney for the city of Thornton and approving the associated employment agreement, whereas the current city attorney, Tammy Yelico, is retiring as of September 1, 2026, subject to the terms and conditions of her employment agreement adopted by City Council, and whereas City Council wishes to appoint Jessica Whitney as Interim City Attorney to serve until such time as a new City Attorney is appointed by City Council pursuant to Section 5.9 of the C

2:35:10•JKJan Kulmann

Thank you. It's been moved and seconded to approve the resolution. I'll open it for discussion. Council Member Alge, you have the option to go first as you made the motion.

2:35:17 – 2:36:30•JAJohn Alge

Thank you, Madam Mayor. I'll be brief so we can get home. First of all, I did neglect to mention this in my council comments. So, Tammy, thank you for your amazing work for our city the last five years. You've been very instrumental in our city's growth, and you definitely have helped Devin, Drew, and I when we sworn into council. You've been an invaluable asset to our city and to us, and we are in your debt. We hope you enjoy retirement. It is greener on the other side, even though I'm semi-retired now, but still, it is well-deserved. And Jessica, what can I say about you? It was truly an hon

2:36:31 – 2:36:46•RARoberta Ayala

Mayor Pro Temayala? Yeah, Jessica, I just wanted to thank you for your interview on Saturday. And for all the work you've done, I think that your expertise in land use is going to be really relevant to us as we embark on some new challenges. Thank you.

2:36:47 – 2:37:06•JKJan Kulmann

Any additional discussion? I'll just say we are incredibly lucky to have such amazing staff members that are willing to step up into an interim position to be able to make sure that the city is able to move forward in a and fill some very big shoes from Tammy. So thank you, Jessica, for being willing to do that. Very much appreciate it. Would you please pull the council?

2:37:12 – 2:38:52•JKJan Kulmann

Thank you. And if I could do a moment of privilege, I would like for the council to take a picture with Tammy and Jessica this evening to acknowledge before we adjourn the meeting. Let's go. All right. Item 15 is adjournment. And having no further business, we are adjourned at 9.42 p.m.