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Record of Proceedings

Brighton City Council Meeting - July 15, 2025: DDA Ordinance, Ceremonies, and Public Comments

City Council — Tuesday, July 15, 2025
BodyBrighton, Colorado
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, July 15, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:24:28

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
1:10

I'd like to call to order our city council meeting for Tuesday, July fifteenth, twenty twenty-five.

1:16

And I'd like to ask uh Chief Bryson Garrison from the Brighton Fire Authority to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

1:45

All right, thank you.

1:46

Um Madam City Clerk, please call roll.

1:50

Mayor Mills.

1:51

Here.

1:52

Mayor Pro Tempadilla.

1:53

Present.

1:54

Councilmember Fiddler.

1:55

Here.

1:56

Councilmember Green.

1:57

Mr.

1:58

Key.

1:59

Councilmember Pulaski?

2:00

Here.

2:01

Councilmember Snyder.

2:03

Here.

2:04

Councilmember Tadeo.

2:05

She's away on a personal matter.

2:07

Councilmember Wirth.

2:09

He is traveling.

2:10

You have a quorum, Your Honor.

2:12

Thank you.

2:12

Next is the consent agenda.

2:15

Madam City Clerk, please read that into the record.

2:18

Item two A, approval of the June seventeenth, twenty twenty-five City Council minutes.

2:23

Item two B, a resolution of the City Council of the City of Brighton, Colorado.

2:27

Approving participation by the City of Brighton in a coordinated election to be conducted by the Adams County Clerk and Recorder and the Weld County Clerk and Recorder on November fourth, twenty twenty five.

2:38

Item two C a resolution of the City Council of the City of Brighton, Colorado, appointing Daniel Sherman as a member of the district plan commission to fill an unexpired term to January twenty twenty-eight.

2:50

Thank you.

2:50

What is the pleasure of council?

2:52

Councilmember Pulowski.

2:54

Thank you, Mayor.

2:55

I'm happy to move the uh consent agenda as presented.

3:00

And then Councilmember Green.

3:02

Thank you, Mayor.

3:03

I'm happy to second that.

3:04

We have a first and a second to approve the consent agenda as presented.

3:09

Roll call vote.

3:15

Motion passes six to zero and two absent.

3:19

Next is the approval of the regular agenda.

3:24

Who'd like to make a motion on that?

3:27

Councilmember Pelowski.

3:29

Thank you, Mayor.

3:30

I'd move for approval of the regular agenda.

3:36

Thank you, Mayor.

3:36

I'll say it.

3:38

We have a first and second to approve the agenda as presented.

3:42

Roll call vote.

3:48

Motion passes six to zero and two absent.

3:52

Next we move on to ceremonies.

4:01

Thank you, Mayor.

4:02

Good evening, Mayor.

4:03

Mayor Pro Tem and members of Council at this time.

4:05

I will ask Mr.

4:06

Sherman to meet our city clerk at the podium to be sworn in.

4:10

Welcome, Mr.

4:11

Sherman.

4:14

Raise your right hand, repeat after me.

4:16

I state your name.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Downtown Revitalization█████████████████████████████29%
Youth Programs████████████████16%
Procedural███████████11%
Downtown Development Authority██████████10%
Public Engagement████████8%
Disability Rights███████7%
Organizational Excellence█████5%
Public Safety████4%
Governance and Ethics███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Brighton City Council Meeting - July 15, 2025

The Brighton City Council met on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, at 6:00 PM in Council Chambers. The meeting included ceremonies, public comments, and the first reading of an ordinance to place a Downtown Development Authority (DDA) formation question on the November 2025 ballot. The council voted 6-0 on the consent agenda, regular agenda, and to move the DDA ordinance forward.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved the June 17, 2025 City Council minutes.
  • Approved a resolution to participate in a coordinated election with Adams and Weld counties on November 4, 2025.
  • Appointed Daniel Sherman to the District Plan Commission for an unexpired term to January 2028.

Ceremonies

  • Swearing In: Daniel Sherman was sworn in as a District Plan Commission member. He expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve the community where he has lived for nearly 30 years.
  • Disability Pride Month Proclamation: Mayor Mills read a proclamation declaring July 2025 as Disability Pride Month. Joe Pinto and Kristen Hansen Hoffman accepted on behalf of the disability community. Pinto delivered remarks describing the disability pride flag and emphasized that disability issues affect everyone.
  • Growing Grads Young Entrepreneurs: Twenty-seven young entrepreneurs were introduced by youth services intern Tanya Russell. Each briefly described their business, which will sell at the upcoming city barbecue. Councilmember Fiedler noted one entrepreneur had given him a sticker despite his not having a dog.
  • Youth Commission Graduates: Several graduating seniors from the Brighton Youth Commission were recognized. Tanya Russell noted their hundreds of hours of community service. Graduates stated their names, high schools, and future plans (e.g., University of Central Florida for forensic science, CU Denver for biology).
  • Performance and Leadership Academy Graduates: The city’s Performance and Leadership Academy has generated 1.2 million in projected annual savings from 59 completed projects. Four graduates presented process improvements: Joe Hostetler (procurement checklists), Jasmine Malpeka (sales tax delinquency tracking), Gray Shipman (automated land use code review), and Rodney Nodal (rec center pass five-year waiver policy).

Public Comments & Testimony (Matters Not on Agenda)

  • Tom Lampo offered a prayer for the city, its leaders, and those affected by wildfires.
  • Lori Morris raised concerns about Mayor Gregory Mills serving simultaneously as District Director for U.S. Representative Gabe Evans. She questioned how conflicts of interest are monitored and asked for a clarifying document on agenda items and potential conflicts. Mayor Mills offered to meet with her individually.

Discussion Items

Ordinance for Initial Consideration: Brighton Downtown Development Authority (DDA) Formation (ID-165-25)

City Manager Martinez and Urban Renewal Authority Executive Director Aaron Herrera introduced the ordinance to refer two questions to voters within the proposed DDA boundary: (1) Shall a DDA be formed? (2) Shall tax increment financing (TIF) be collected? The DDA would replace the existing Urban Renewal Authority (URA), which expires in 2027. The plan of development was informed by over 800 community inputs. The proposed boundary excludes multifamily properties, per council direction. The election would involve approximately 600 electors (residents, business owners, and commercial property owners). DDA board members must be stakeholders; one council member serves by statute.

Public Testimony:

  • Zach Silver (Lizzie's Axe Throwing) expressed support, noting URA facade grants helped his business.
  • Gary Dickinson (Main Street Creatives) urged support, stating the arts community depends on downtown vibrancy.
  • Nathaniel Miller (Big Choice Bring) supported putting the DDA on the ballot, citing downtown improvements since URA.
  • Reverend Terry Bowen (Brighton Housing Authority Commissioner) opposed gerrymandering boundaries to exclude BHA properties, arguing it disenfranchises residents who deserve a vote on matters affecting their lives.
  • Nicole Moots (downtown business owner) voiced support, crediting URA for enabling her business.
  • Wayne Scott supported the DDA, drawing parallels to the Prairie Center Public Improvement Fee and noting URA's past successes (library, armory).
  • Dave Rose (former council member) supported a DDA but urged inclusion of all residents (including BHA properties) in the vote.
  • Chief Bryson Garrison (Brighton Fire Authority) raised concerns about the fire district's financial burden from TIF; estimated $500,000/year in forgone revenue. He suggested an exemption or similar agreement to the prior 50% revenue-sharing arrangement.

Council Discussion:

  • Councilmember Green clarified that both ballot questions must pass for the DDA to function with TIF. He noted BHA properties do not pay property taxes and therefore would not contribute increment.
  • Councilmember Snyder defended the boundaries, stating the map is imperfect but necessary before URA expires. He argued that a thriving downtown benefits all residents, including those in BHA housing.
  • Councilmember Pawlowski expressed concern that excluding up to 400 residents (out of ~600 electors) could sway the vote and disenfranchise them.
  • City Manager Martinez and consultant Brad Siegel responded to Chief Garrison: the URA sunset in 2027 will increase the fire district's base revenue by approximately $550,000/year, and the DDA boundary is far smaller than the current URA. They committed to sharing projections and noted that agreements with taxing authorities can be negotiated during plan of development approval.
  • Councilmember Fiedler asked about unpaid debts from prior URA arrangements; none were acknowledged.
  • Mayor Mills stated the map is a starting point and can be expanded via petitions.

Vote: Mayor Pro Tem Padilla moved item 7A, Councilmember Green seconded. The motion passed 6-0 (Councilmembers Taddeo and Worth absent).

Key Outcomes

  • Consent agenda, regular agenda, and executive session motion all passed 6-0.
  • The DDA ordinance passed first reading 6-0, placing two questions (formation and TIF) on the November 4, 2025 ballot for electors within the proposed DDA boundary.
  • The plan of development will undergo revisions and return to council for approval in early 2026 if the DDA passes.
  • The council recessed into executive session for attorney-client privilege regarding possible litigation (C.R.S. 24-6-402(4)(b)).

Upcoming Events

  • City Barbecue on July 17, 2025, 5:30-7:30 PM at Carmichael Park, featuring the young entrepreneurs and city departments.

Meeting Transcript

I'd like to call to order our city council meeting for Tuesday, July fifteenth, twenty twenty-five. And I'd like to ask uh Chief Bryson Garrison from the Brighton Fire Authority to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance. All right, thank you. Um Madam City Clerk, please call roll. Mayor Mills. Here. Mayor Pro Tempadilla. Present. Councilmember Fiddler. Here. Councilmember Green. Mr. Key. Councilmember Pulaski? Here. Councilmember Snyder. Here. Councilmember Tadeo. She's away on a personal matter. Councilmember Wirth. He is traveling. You have a quorum, Your Honor. Thank you. Next is the consent agenda. Madam City Clerk, please read that into the record. Item two A, approval of the June seventeenth, twenty twenty-five City Council minutes. Item two B, a resolution of the City Council of the City of Brighton, Colorado. Approving participation by the City of Brighton in a coordinated election to be conducted by the Adams County Clerk and Recorder and the Weld County Clerk and Recorder on November fourth, twenty twenty five. Item two C a resolution of the City Council of the City of Brighton, Colorado, appointing Daniel Sherman as a member of the district plan commission to fill an unexpired term to January twenty twenty-eight. Thank you. What is the pleasure of council? Councilmember Pulowski. Thank you, Mayor. I'm happy to move the uh consent agenda as presented. And then Councilmember Green. Thank you, Mayor. I'm happy to second that. We have a first and a second to approve the consent agenda as presented. Roll call vote. Motion passes six to zero and two absent. Next is the approval of the regular agenda. Who'd like to make a motion on that? Councilmember Pelowski. Thank you, Mayor. I'd move for approval of the regular agenda. Thank you, Mayor. I'll say it. We have a first and second to approve the agenda as presented. Roll call vote. Motion passes six to zero and two absent.

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