Brighton City Council Meeting - July 8, 2025

The Brighton City Council met on 2025-07-08 at 1:00 PM to discuss several items, including a proposed appointment to the district plan commission, the 2024 financial audit results, land use and development code amendments, and a detailed presentation on enforcing downtown issues related to homelessness. The meeting also included policy discussions on city-owned properties and supporting home rule cities' litigation against the state.

Consent Calendar

• No consent calendar items were presented.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments were made.

Discussion Items

Appointment to District Plan Commission

• Deputy City Clerk Aaron introduced the recommendation to appoint Daniel Sherman to the district plan commission. No reservations were raised, and the item was directed to be brought back for a vote at the next city council meeting.

Monthly Executed Contract Update

• Finance Director Katrina presented the list of contracts executed in May. Councilmember Mayor Pro Tem requested an additional column showing the most recent change order amount (not just total) to avoid manually recalculating. Staff agreed to add the column.

2024 Financial Audit Results

• Principal Auditor Matt Marino of Ruben Brown presented the audit. Key points:
  • Issued an unmodified (clean) opinion.
  • Implemented new accounting standard GASB 101 (compensated absences) with no material impact.
  • Three prior period adjustments were made, the largest involving water rights dating back 20+ years – identified by finance team during new software implementation.
  • Adjustments also related to impact fee accounting and Brighton Urban Renewal Authority.
  • Auditor praised the finance team's expertise and hard work, noting the city is well-served by its staff.
  • Councilmember expressed support for the clean audit and acknowledged the finance team's efforts.

Land Use and Development Code Amendments

• Associate Planner Stephanie Imes presented proposed amendments to Articles 1, 2, and 11 of the Land Use and Development Code (LUDC). Highlights:
  • Appeals: Consolidating two conflicting appeal sections into one uniform process with clear timelines.
  • Change Orders: Codifying the existing administrative process for minor modifications to approved plans.
  • Subdivision Plan: Clarifying responsibilities of Planning Commission (recommending) and City Council (deciding).
  • Residential Design Standards Review: Creating a distinct application type for evaluating house elevations and materials, separate from site improvement permits.
  • Historic Preservation and elimination of public hearing requirement for LUDC amendments (aligning with municipal code practice).
  • Councilmember questions focused on maintaining home rule authority (staff confirmed no conflict), and specifics of the appeals process and change orders. Council expressed support for the amendments.

Enforcement of Downtown Issues

• City Manager Martinez introduced the topic as a policy-level discussion on homelessness perception and downtown safety.
• Police Chief presented an overview:
  • Common complaints: loitering, camping, trash, public urination/defecation, drug paraphernalia, aggressive behavior, and business impact.
  • Existing city ordinances address littering, public urination, camping on public property, and code enforcement on private property.
  • Highlighted enforcement challenges: few local shelters/services; most unhoused individuals want to stay in Brighton; enforcement alone is ineffective (low-level offenses, displacement).
  • Advocated a root-cause approach: focus on services, case management, and connection to resources, rather than enforcement first.
  • Recommended a dedicated staff member (non-police) focused exclusively on homelessness outreach.
• Councilmember discussion:
  • Point-in-time count: 36 homeless total (7 unsheltered) – likely undercount.
  • Multiple councilmembers expressed empathy but also frustration with criminal behavior (theft, defecation, drug use) and urged enforcement of existing laws.
  • Support for a multi-pronged strategy: enforcement where appropriate, mental health co-responders (partnered with Reaching Hope), increased patrols, and potential for public restrooms/porta-potties.
  • Councilmember Snyder emphasized need to support downtown businesses; Councilmember Tadeo asked about daily patrols and legal mechanisms to move people; Mayor Pro Tem warned against overly punitive ordinances and noted lack of county services.
  • City Attorney Calderon mentioned a gap in camping on private property ordinance and suggested engaging faith-based organizations.
• City Manager Martinez confirmed ongoing collaboration with Almost Home, Housing Authority, and Urban Renewal Authority; reiterated that multiple solutions will be needed and that expectations should be tempered (20% success rate is a home run).
• Council agreed this discussion is the beginning of a longer process.

Key Outcomes

• Appointment: Direction given to prepare a resolution for Daniel Sherman's appointment for a vote at the next council meeting.
• Contract Update: Finance department to add a column showing change order amounts in future reports.
• Code Amendments: Staff will proceed with drafting the proposed LUDC amendments for a public hearing before the planning commission and city council.
• Downtown Issues: The council will continue discussions; staff to explore dedicated homeless outreach staff, potential ordinances (private property camping), and partnerships with churches. No immediate votes were taken.
• Policy Items: Councilmember Tadeo requested a future discussion on city-owned properties. Mayor Pro Tem proposed instructing the city attorney to file a supportive brief or resolution in support of home rule cities suing the state over preemptive land use legislation; council expressed assent to pursue this.