Brighton City Council Meeting – April 1, 2025

The Brighton City Council met on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, at 6:00 PM in Council Chambers. The meeting included the approval of the consent agenda, several ceremonial proclamations, public hearings on a budget amendment and a zoning map amendment, and action on multiple resolutions. Councilmember Johnston was absent throughout the meeting; Councilmember Taddeo recused herself from Item 9C.

Consent Calendar

• ID-57-25: Approval of the March 4, 2025 City Council minutes.
• ID-63-25: Resolution appointing Quentin Kosch as an alternate member of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board (term to January 2027).
• ID-64-25: Resolution appointing Barbara Heumann as a member of the Brighton Historic Preservation Commission (term to June 2028). The consent agenda was approved by a unanimous roll-call vote (8–0).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Magdalena Delavilar (resident of North 9th Avenue) spoke during the non-agenda public comment period. She expressed concern about council members who may not physically reside in Brighton, citing past examples and stating that representatives should live in the city 100% of the time. She asked the city to verify residency requirements.

Ceremonies

• Swearing In: Barbara Heumann (Historic Preservation Commission) and Quentin Kosch (Parks and Recreation Advisory Board) were sworn in. Heumann noted upcoming exhibits for the nation’s 250th anniversary and Brighton’s 150th anniversary.
• Proclamation – Matilda "Tilly" Hruby, State Girl's Wrestling Champion: Mayor Pro Tem Padilla read the proclamation honoring Tilly Ruby, a Brighton High School sophomore who won her second state championship (155 lb weight class) on February 16, 2025, with a perfect 38–0 in-state record and all pins in the first period. Coaches Eric Heinz and James Garcia were also recognized. Tilly Ruby is ranked #8 nationally. April 2, 2025 was proclaimed "Matilda Tilly Ruby Day."
• Proclamation – Sexual Assault Awareness Month (April 2025): Councilmember Taddeo read the proclamation, noting the theme "Together We Act, United We Change." Kim Messina, Victim Services Manager, accepted and highlighted the Brighton Office for Victim Assistance (BOVA) services.
• Proclamation – National Crime Victims' Rights Week (April 6–12, 2025): Councilmember Wirth read the proclamation with the theme "Kinship, Connecting and Healing." Kim Messina reported that BOVA served 4,997 victims across four jurisdictions in 2024, responded to 1,968 crisis calls, and opened approximately 3,426 cases.

Public Hearings

• Item 6A – 2025 Budget Amendment (ID-67-25): A resolution amending the Parks and Recreation Capital Improvement Fund, Lodging Tax Fund, Cemetery Fund, Cemetery Perpetual Care Fund, and Storm Drainage Fund, appropriating $1,437,608. The amendment covers additional lodging tax allocations (up to $35,000 for the Brighton Chamber of Commerce and carryover for a Cultural Arts Commission sculpture project), transfers for storm drainage improvements, and transfer of $89,304 in interest earnings from the Cemetery Perpetual Care Fund for cemetery maintenance. The total city budget is now $311 million. The public hearing was opened and closed with no public comment. The motion to approve passed 8–0.
• Item 6B – Watertower Place Zoning Map Amendment (ID-53-25): First reading (continued from March 18, 2025) to rezone approximately 14.727 acres (northeast of Fire Station 52, south of East Bridge Street) from Bromley Park PUD (underlying C3) to C2 (restricted retail and services, 4.511 acres) and R2 (mixed-density residential, 10.216 acres). Staff and the applicant (Columbo 2 LLC) presented, emphasizing alignment with the comprehensive plan, the missing middle housing needs assessment, and compatibility with surrounding development. Three formal comments of support were received. The Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval. The public hearing was opened; no additional public testimony was offered. The motion to approve passed 8–0.

Resolutions

• Item 9A – Donations Resolution (ID-66-25): Resolution approving distribution of funds authorized in the 2025 budget and finding a public purpose for donations to nonprofits. The resolution adds two lodging tax-funded items (Chamber of Commerce $35,000 and Cultural Arts Commission sculpture) to previously approved annual donations. Passed 8–0.
• Item 9B – Conservation Easement Amendment (ID-69-25): Resolution approving the first amendment to the deed of conservation easement for the Wagner Mayhew property, needed for future right-of-way and drainage. Passed 8–0.
• Item 9C – Bridge Street Widening Change Order No. 2 (ID-62-25): Resolution approving a $2,933,000 change order with Brannan Sand and Gravel, LLC, bringing the total contract to $23,820,084. The funds cover additional work including United Power electrical design, pond modifications, 40th Avenue widening, a bore operation for a ditch crossing, and resolution of underground conflicts (water line relocation, concrete debris, cave-ins, sanitary manhole reconstruction). Staff noted the project is over 80% complete. Councilmember Taddeo recused herself due to a family member’s employment with Brannan. The motion passed 7–0.
• Item 9D – Special Counsel Appointment (ID-68-25): Resolution appointing Corey Hoffman as special counsel to advise City Council for a protest hearing regarding a council member’s qualifications, as required by municipal code after six protest letters were received. Passed 8–0.

Reports

• Mayor Mills: Attended the North Area Transit Alliance (NATA) meeting where Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) on Federal Boulevard was discussed. CDOT reported that Highway 7 repaving will resume when overnight temperatures remain above 50°F. Upcoming: Metro Mayors Caucus and Volunteer Recognition Awards.
• City Manager’s Office (Deputy Falkenberg): Announced the city manager’s birthday (April 1) and 10-year anniversary. Reported that Brighton’s current population is over 48,000, based on permit data since the 2020 census. Noted that the downtown public open house (Visions of a Brighter Downtown) attracted 70 attendees.
• Councilmembers:
  • Snyder: Attended the downtown partnership meeting; optimism for forming a Downtown Development Authority.
  • Fiedler: Noted a requested rate increase did not pass pending a rate study; looking forward to the Brighton Police Awards.
  • Padilla: Highlighted the Eagleview Adult Center spaghetti luncheon; upcoming volunteer recognition and Aerotropolis kickoff; noted renovation of 120 housing units at Hughes Station.
  • Green: Thanked Happy Family Tree Service for removing a large dead tree for a resident.
  • Wirth: Attended the Brighton Youth Commission meeting; reminded of the upcoming Speak Week (annual event since 2012).
  • Pawlowski: Attended the downtown event and will attend Parks and Rec Board meeting and E-470 retreat.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda approved 8–0.
• Budget Amendment (6A) approved 8–0.
• Watertower Place Zoning (6B) approved 8–0 (first reading).
• Donations Resolution (9A) approved 8–0.
• Conservation Easement Amendment (9B) approved 8–0.
• Bridge Street Change Order (9C) approved 7–0 (one recusal).
• Special Counsel Appointment (9D) approved 8–0.
• Council heard non-agenda public comment regarding council member residency.
• Council recognized individual and community achievements through proclamations.