Public Meetings - Brighton, Colorado

The Brighton City Council met in a special session on June 25, 2024 at 5:30 PM in Council Chambers. The meeting included a consent agenda, swearing-in of a new board member, introduction of summer interns, final adoption of an ordinance waiving water dedication fees for affordable housing, and approval of a $4.5 million transportation preservation contract. All votes were unanimous (9-0 or 5-0). Consent Calendar - Appointment to Parks & Recreation Advisory Board: Council approved a resolution appointing Keith Mutz as an at-large member to fill an unexpired term through January 2027. (9-0) Ceremonies - Swearing-In: Keith Mutz was sworn in as a member of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. Mutz expressed his desire to make a difference in the community. - Introduction of 2024 Growing Grads Interns: Youth Services Coordinator Rachel Keeley presented ten of the fourteen summer interns. The program saw 85 youth attend the summer job launch (highest since 2020) and 58 applicants for 14 positions. Interns introduced themselves and their assigned departments. Discussion Items - Ordinance Amending Fee-in-Lieu of Water Dedication for Affordable Housing (ID-177-24): This was the final reading of an ordinance amending Brighton Municipal Code Sections 13-4-05 and 13-4-10(a) to reduce or eliminate water dedication fees for affordable housing projects. Councilmember Padilla moved approval, stating it benefits development of new affordable housing. Councilmember Taddeo seconded. The motion passed 5-0 (some council members were absent or recused? The roll call shows 5-0, but full council is 9 members; likely some were absent or did not vote on ordinance). - Resolution for 2024 Transportation Preservation and Improvement Project (ID-194-24): Public Works representative Joseph Leon presented the $4,506,947 contract with A-1 Chipseal Company for road preservation across Brighton, including safety improvements, striping, and sharrows on roads like Baseline Road and Bromley Lane. He added slides in response to feedback from the June 11 study session, showing a list of priority areas and those postponed to 2025. Council discussed alley paving (raised by Councilmember Pawlowski) and the need for a longer-term plan. Councilmember Snyder and Johnston expressed concern about always being behind on road maintenance. City Manager Martinez noted the two-year budget cycle offers an opportunity for better planning. The resolution passed 9-0. Key Outcomes - Consent Agenda: Approved 9-0. - Regular Agenda: Approved 9-0. - Ordinance (Fee-in-Lieu for Affordable Housing): Adopted on final reading, 5-0. - Transportation Preservation Contract: Awarded to A-1 Chipseal Company for $4,506,947, passed 9-0. - Next Steps: City Manager indicated the fall budget process will explore a longer-term approach to road maintenance. - The meeting adjourned; a study session followed upstairs.

The City Council held a study session on June 11, 2024, at 6:00 PM. Key topics included the 2023 audit results, the 2024 Transportation Preservation and Improvement Project (TPIP), a Finance Department update, and policy items. The meeting also featured a consent calendar appointment and public comments on sidewalks, parking safety, and a potential tree department. Consent Calendar - Appointment to Parks and Recreation Advisory Board: Council agreed to place the appointment of Keith Mutz on the consent agenda for the next regular meeting. Councilmember Johnston noted that the policy on which boards require council background review has changed multiple times. Councilmember Padula (liaison to the board) confirmed the board conducted a thorough review and found Mutz qualified. Discussion Items 2023 Audit Results (6:00 PM) - The city’s new external auditors, Ruben Brown, presented the results. The audit issued an unmodified (clean) opinion on the financial statements and a clean opinion on the single audit (required due to $10.9 million in federal expenditures, exceeding the $750,000 threshold). - A significant deficiency in internal control was noted regarding the COVID-19 State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (ALN 21.027): reports were filed accurately and on time, but the preparer and submitter roles were not clearly separated (no documented review sign-off). - Recommendations included: (1) review employee files to ensure current documentation; (2) better catalog intergovernmental agreements for financial impact; (3) tighten escrow balance tracking; (4) add documented sign-offs to sales tax reconciliation. Assistant Finance Director Haley Miller confirmed all recommendations would be implemented before the next audit. - Councilmember Johnston clarified the definition of a single audit. Councilmember Green asked about implementation plans; Miller confirmed all would be addressed. 2024 Transportation Preservation and Improvement Project (6:15 PM) - Public Works Director Greg LeBrie and Construction Manager Joseph Leon presented the annual $4,506,946 project. Work includes mill and overlay, mill patching, enhanced pedestrian striping, and shareows (bicycle symbols). Major areas: Baseline Road, Bromley Lane, Bridge Street, and other high-traffic/high-pedestrian zones. One responsive bid was received from A1 Chip Seal. - Council discussion highlighted that the project scope is budget-constrained rather than need-driven. Councilmember Snyder asked for a list of all deferred maintenance to justify additional funding. Councilmember Johnston raised concerns about missing sidewalk connections, particularly on 50th Avenue near the bus stop, and requested the project not be placed on the consent agenda to allow public comment. Mayor Pro Tem agreed. - Councilmember Green noted that Judicial Center Drive was omitted due to ongoing water treatment plant construction; Deputy City Manager Marv Falkenberg confirmed it will be addressed after the plant is complete. Councilmember Worth praised the public works team's responsiveness. Councilmember Taddeo suggested unbundling concrete work to attract smaller local contractors; staff is already surveying bidders to improve competition next year. - Staff recommendation: award the contract to A1 Chip Seal. A future council meeting will consider the award (likely on a consent agenda, but council indicated it should be a regular agenda item given the dollar amount). Finance Department Update (6:30 PM) - Finance Director Katrina presented an overview of the 17-person department, highlighting values and key functions. Highlights: - Accounting: 5-person team handling all financial transactions, reporting, and audit support. - Procurement: 2-person team; executed over 200 contracts year-to-date, reduced average procurement days by 4 (to 42 days overall, 71 days for formal solicitations). Top customers: Utilities, Parks & Rec, Facilities. Accomplishments: municipal code updates, PCARD conversion, creation of a Master Price Agreement panel. - Revenue: Managing nearly 6,000 business accounts; 15 compliance audits in progress, $400,000 assessed year-to-date. Utility billing: 13,000 active accounts; 123 water assistance applications approved, $60,000 in assistance awarded. A new utility billing system will be implemented as part of the larger ERP replacement ("Project Panda"). - Project Panda: Replacement of the legacy financial system with Tyler Technologies’ ERP. Four phases: Chart of Accounts (completed 2 weeks early), HR/Payroll (in design), Financials (starting soon), Utilities (starting October). Implementation spans 18 months, with post-go-live support. Steering committee includes Finance, IT, and Budget. The city’s project manager is Coa Hills. - Councilmembers commended the team for a clear presentation and expressed appreciation for the department’s work. Policy Items (Dog Park and Tree Department) - Dog Park: Deputy City Manager Falkenberg reported that two policy requests had been submitted via the new Monday.com system. The city has been studying a west-side dog park; the preferred location is Colorado Park (2 acres, adjacent to trail and river, with parking). Staff aims to include it in the 2025 budget and construct in 2025. Councilmember Padula (who had previously requested the dog park) expressed support. - Tree Department: Councilmember Padula requested the city investigate creating a dedicated tree department to help property owners with tree care, citing health benefits and growing issues with aging trees. He urged council to study what other cities have done. Falkenberg suggested filling out the formal policy request form so staff can study and provide an update. - Councilmember Johnston raised ongoing safety concerns about parking at the new Taco Bell near apartment complexes, requesting action. Falkenberg encouraged use of the Monday.com form to track issues. Key Outcomes - Consent Calendar: Appointment of Keith Mutz to Parks and Recreation Advisory Board will be placed on the next regular meeting consent agenda. - Audit Recommendations: Staff committed to implementing all four audit recommendations before the next audit cycle. - Transportation Project: The $4,506,946 contract with A1 Chip Seal will be brought to a future council meeting for a vote on a regular (not consent) agenda. Council directed staff to provide a list of all deferred maintenance needs for budget planning. - Finance Update: Noted for information; Project Panda continues on schedule. - Dog Park: Staff will pursue a west-side dog park at Colorado Park, aiming for 2025 budget inclusion and construction. - Tree Department: Councilmember Padula’s request will be formally submitted via the policy request form for study. - Parking Safety: Councilmember Johnston’s concern will be documented via the Monday.com system for follow-up.

The Brighton City Council met on Tuesday, June 4, 2024, at 6:00 PM in Council Chambers at 500 S. 4th Avenue, Brighton, Colorado. Mayor Gregory Mills was out of town, and Mayor Pro Tem Peter Padilla presided. Eight council members were present (Padilla, Fiedler, Green, Johnston, Pawlowski, Snyder, Taddeo, and Worth); all votes passed 8-0 with one absent. The meeting featured an LGBTQ+ Pride Month proclamation, extensive public comment on the Palace/Pilzzi Farm eminent domain matter (not on the agenda), first-reading approval of a fee-in-lieu water dedication ordinance for affordable housing, and unanimous direction to staff to draft an ordinance enforcing compliance with development agreements. Consent Calendar - Approved 8-0 (one absent) the consent agenda, including: approval of the May 7, 2024 City Council minutes; a resolution adopting the revised 2023-2027 Strategic Plan; and a resolution adopting the City of Brighton 2024 Sustainability Plan. - Approved 8-0 the regular meeting agenda. Ceremonies: LGBTQ+ Pride Month Proclamation - Councilmember Ann Taddeo read the proclamation designating June 2024 as LGBTQ+ Pride Month. City Manager Michael Martinez accepted it on behalf of staff, stating that Brighton proudly supports Pride Month as an employer because it values diversity, inclusion, and equity. Public Comments & Testimony - Mayor Pro Tem Padilla reminded speakers that the Palace Farm/Parkland Metropolitan District matter was not on the agenda and that no direct action would be taken; the city does not respond to comments on non-agenda items. - Tom Lampoon opened with a prayer citing biblical verses and urged the public to seek alternative media sources. - Nancy Bisall (717 S. Twelfth Ave.) condemned what she called lies to the council, urged council not to approve anything from the developer, and said she would track the developer's other Brighton land. - Tammy Smith (430 N. 16th Ave.) said eminent domain is legal but that how it is conducted determines whether it is moral; she asked the council to fix the mistake and adopt a policy requiring property owners to be notified of meetings involving eminent domain. - Scott Dutcher said four Nextdoor posts reached about 3,400 people, demonstrating community engagement, and argued council members who still support Parkland Metropolitan District's use of eminent domain are on the wrong side of the issue. - Stephen Fowler (Parker, Colorado) called the situation appalling, invoked 'We the People', and said farms have been lost to developers nonstop; his family has farmed in Colorado since 1895. - Deborah Pilzzi (14840 Sable Blvd.) said the project would stop their flood irrigation and deep soil work, that the east-west pipes with only about two inches of slope contradict the natural south-north water flow, and that the easement would fill with trash and plug up. She said developer Jack Hoagland never contacted her after a June 2022 conversation, that his statements were proven lies in court on May 13, that his expert engineer said there are 19 ways to make the project work, and she asked why only the middle of her farm is being considered. - Emily Ostrander, attorney representing Palace Farms, said the developer misrepresented impacts at the September 19, 2023 meeting: council was told farming could continue except for a couple of manholes, but the developer later filed for four 48-inch pipes, a service road, and a blanket easement. She said the amended easement is useless if the design does not physically allow farming and cited the district's own court filing stating the city could object, amend the IGA, or rescind the resolution, and still controls final design approval. - Charlene Perea (375 Eastern Ave.) detailed the Pilzzi family's community contributions (produce, donations, Cornfest, employment, starter plants) and said losing the farm would be detrimental to Brighton. - Pete Fibbs (168 Plumin Ave.) said the process was reactionary, that council members should have personally reached out to Deborah Pilzzi, and suggested suing the developer or revoking eminent domain rights based on misrepresentation. - Dawn Woodworth (14575 Young Drive) said Parkland misrepresented the drainage plan, doubted the system would work without lift stations, and warned that a 100-year flood could create serious trouble in the lowland area. - Dave Petraco, a farmer growing about 4,000 acres of vegetables in Adams and Weld counties, said the proposed burial depth was unusually shallow, warned of soil disturbance and fertility loss beyond the easement, and noted an existing storm channel on the farm's south property line as an alternative route. Kate Ritchie and Terylyn Romero donated their speaking time so he could finish. - Terylyn Romero (Alma Lane, Kittredge, Colorado), a property rights advocate who fought Jefferson County over her backyard, said developers claim a need when it is a want, and argued the eminent domain approval should be revoked because the developer showed no good faith. Ordinance for Initial Consideration (ID-177-24) - City Manager Michael Martinez said the item was presented at the May 14, 2024 study session and stemmed from the October 2023 housing needs assessment. The ordinance amends Sections 13-4-05 and 13-4-10(a) of the Brighton Municipal Code to allow a fee in lieu of water dedication for affordable housing projects. Martinez emphasized the ordinance does not relieve the obligation to provide water; it changes the mechanism by which developers either bring water or pay for it. Utilities Director Scott Olsen and Community Development Director Holly Prather were available for questions. - Approved on first reading 8-0 (one absent). General Business - Cancel June 18, 2024 meeting: Approved 8-0 to cancel the regular June 18 meeting because multiple members will attend the Colorado Municipal League Conference. - Special meeting June 25: Approved 8-0 to hold a special City Council meeting on June 25, 2024 at 5:30 p.m., followed by the regular study session, to satisfy the charter's two-meetings-per-month requirement. - Development Review Discussion (ID-178-24): Councilman Matt Johnston said he could not gather support for a special meeting on the Pilzzi Farm issue and instead placed this item on the agenda. He recounted that at the September 19, 2023 meeting, the developer said the Pilzzis could farm over one pipe with no surface infringements, and that when he asked at three hours and 31 minutes into the meeting whether farming could continue other than a couple of manholes, the answer was yes. Johnston said the then-city attorney confirmed any further eminent domain use would have to come back to council, but the developer later changed to four 48-inch pipes, added a service road, expanded the easement, and claimed 24-hour access, and Deborah Pilzzi had not been notified of the meeting. He moved to direct staff to create a reporting mechanism and enforcement tool to force compliance with all original development agreements and to present options at the July 2 regular meeting. Councilman Jim Snyder seconded. Councilmember Tom Green questioned what teeth the request would have, and Councilmember Chris Fiedler asked the city attorney about enforcement options. City Attorney Alicia Calderon said the current code lacks such an enforcement mechanism, that other cities have added them, that laws cannot be retroactive, and that land use decisions become vested once made. Mayor Pro Tem Padilla suggested modeling an ordinance on a relatively new Aurora ordinance. Johnston accepted amendments removing the final plat review reference and moving the presentation to the July 9 study session, per City Manager Martinez's request due to the July 4 holiday. The amended motion passed 8-0. Green later emphasized that council did not grant eminent domain, is not a party to the case, and cannot unwind the decision. Reports - Mayor Pro Tem Padilla (on behalf of the Mayor) highlighted Brighton Summerfest, the Face vocal band concert at the Armory, the upcoming Adams County Pride Fest, an airport coordinating committee meeting on airport noise, the Brighton Housing Authority meeting, and new artist-wrapped signal boxes near Founders Plaza. - Police Chief Domenico, introduced by the City Manager, presented the Adams County Family Justice Center concept, which would bring protection orders, housing, therapy, law enforcement, social services, and forensic exams under one roof at no charge. A strategic planning session hosted by the Adams County District Attorney's Office will be held June 26-27 at the Armory in Brighton; RSVPs are due June 20. He invited council members to ensure Brighton is represented. Councilmember Taddeo voiced strong support, citing a tour of Jefferson County's Porch Light Family Justice Center. - City Manager Martinez encouraged residents to apply for open board and commission seats at BrightonCo.gov. - Councilmember reports included: Taddeo on Summerfest and the Prince Act tribute; Green distinguishing an affordable housing shortage from a housing shortage and a water treatment shortage from a water shortage; Pawlowski on a funeral and upcoming E-470 fundraiser grant presentations ($2,000-$10,000); Worth on the BEC picnic, Adams County Council of Governments (possible IKEA at Highway 7 and I-25), a water treatment facility tour, and a Brighton Housing Authority workshop; Johnston on coaching Brighton High School football and a Friday scrimmage between Riverdale Ridge and Prairie View; Fiedler on Summerfest and continuous improvement; and Snyder on the Armory's new sound system, Summerfest, and the police department's community engagement. Executive Session - Approved 8-0 (one absent) a motion to recess under C.R.S. 24-6-402(4)(b) and Charter Section 5.4(C)(3) to receive legal advice. - Approved 8-0 (one absent) a motion to recess under C.R.S. 24-6-402(4)(a) and (e) and Charter Section 5.4(C)(1) and (2) to discuss negotiations for the sale and/or acquisition of real property. - The council reconvened at 8:41 p.m. Participants were the eight council members, City Manager Michael Martinez, City Attorney Alicia Calderon, and Utilities Director Scott Olson. No concerns about improper executive session discussion were raised. Key Outcomes - Consent agenda approved 8-0, adopting the revised 2023-2027 Strategic Plan and the 2024 Sustainability Plan. - June 2024 proclaimed as LGBTQ+ Pride Month. - Fee-in-lieu of water dedication ordinance for affordable housing approved on first reading 8-0. - June 18 meeting canceled and special meeting scheduled for June 25 at 5:30 p.m., both 8-0. - Amended motion passed 8-0 directing staff to develop a reporting mechanism and enforcement ordinance for compliance with original development agreements, with options presented at the July 9 study session. - Executive sessions held for legal advice and real property negotiations; meeting adjourned at 8:41 p.m.