OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Brighton City Council Meeting - October 21, 2025: Budget Adoption, Brighton Crossing Annexation, and Code Updates

City Council — Tuesday, October 21, 2025
BodyBrighton, Colorado
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, October 21, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:28:16

Transcript — Verbatim
2:38

Let's call this meeting to order.

2:41

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

2:47

I'm going to ask Councilmember Fiddler to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

3:28

Council Member Fiddler.

3:32

Live and in person.

3:33

Councilmember Pelowski.

3:34

Here.

3:35

Councilmember Snyder.

3:36

Here.

3:37

Councilmember Tadeo.

3:38

Present.

3:39

Council Member Worth.

3:40

Here.

3:40

You have a quorum, Your Honor.

3:42

Thank you.

3:43

Next is the consent agenda.

3:45

Madam City Clerk, please read that into the agenda, or please read it, read that to the record.

3:50

Item two A approval of the September sixteenth, twenty twenty-five City Council minutes.

3:55

Item two B, a resolution of the City Council of the City of Brighton, Colorado, approving employee benefits for twenty twenty-six and authorizing the city manager to execute benefit contract documents and to set the twenty twenty-six holiday schedule.

4:09

Item two C a resolution of the City Council of the City of Brighton, Colorado, accepting the proposal of Wells Fargo Bank National Association for a new snowplow fleet for the contract amount of four million two hundred thousand dollars and authorizing the city manager or designee to execute the contract on behalf of the city.

5:02

Motion passes eight to zero.

5:04

And I'd like to also thank the members of the public works department that are here.

5:09

They are getting some great snowplows out of this.

5:12

So good job.

5:18

Next is the approval of the regular agenda.

5:21

Who'd like to make that motion?

5:23

Councilmember Pulowski.

5:24

Thank you, Mayor.

5:25

I'd like to move for approval of our regular agenda tonight.

5:29

And then Councilmember Tadeo.

5:31

Thank you.

5:31

I'll second that.

5:32

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

5:37

Roll call vote.

5:45

Motion passes eight to zero.

5:49

Next ceremonies, item four A.

5:53

Swearing in of new board and commission member, City Manager Martinez.

5:58

Thank you, Mayor.

5:59

Good evening, Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem, and members of council.

6:01

At this time, I'll ask Sophia to join our city clerk at the podium.

6:09

Raise your right hand, repeat after me.

6:11

I state your name.

6:12

I, Sophia Imperioli, do solemnly declare, do solemnly declare and affirm and affirm that I will support the Constitution that I will support the Constitution of the United States.

6:22

Of the United States, the Constitution, the Constitution of the State of Colorado.

6:26

Of the State of Colorado, and the Office of the Office of Historic Preservation, Historic Preservation, Commission member, Commission member, and will faithfully perform and will faithfully perform the duties of the office, the duties of the office.

6:38

I'm about to enter.

6:39

I'm about to end.

6:45

Thank you, Sophia.

6:46

Would you like to say a few words at the mic?

6:51

I'm very grateful for this opportunity.

6:52

Um as a transplant from New York.

6:55

Um, I didn't really have a lot of, I guess, accessible history all around me, or at least not that I could see so readily in the built environment.

7:02

So I'm very grateful for this opportunity to help preserve that of Brighton.

7:06

So thank you.

7:07

Thank you.

7:07

Thank you for volunteering.

7:11

We appreciate all those that volunteer on the various boards and commissions we have.

7:15

And I know uh there are still a few openings, so please visit our city clerk if you have interest in serving in your community.

7:24

Moving ahead.

7:27

Item five, public invited to be heard on matters not on the agenda.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural██████████████████18%
Fiscal Sustainability██████████████████18%
Public Engagement██████████10%
Zoning and Land Use██████████10%
Historic Preservation███████7%
Procurement███████7%
Transportation Safety██████6%
Youth Programs█████5%
Public Safety████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Brighton City Council Meeting Summary – October 21, 2025

The Brighton City Council met on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers. The meeting included the adoption of the Fiscal Year 2026 budget, approval of related financial resolutions, final approval of the Brighton Crossing annexation and associated zoning, and initial consideration of municipal code updates. The meeting also featured the swearing-in of a new Historic Preservation Commission member and public comment.

Consent Calendar

  • ID-236-25: Approved the September 16, 2025 City Council minutes (8-0).
  • ID-258-25: Approved a resolution for 2026 employee benefits, authorizing the city manager to execute benefit contracts and set the 2026 holiday schedule (8-0).
  • ID-246-25: Accepted a Wells Fargo proposal for a new snowplow fleet at $4,200,000 and authorized the city manager to execute the contract (8-0).
  • ID-260-25: Appointed Sophia Imperioli to the Brighton Historic Preservation Commission with a term through June 2029 (8-0).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Tom Lampo spoke during the Public Invited to Be Heard portion, offering a prayer for the city and its leaders. No other public comments were made.

Ceremonies

  • Swearing-In: Sophia Imperioli was sworn in as a member of the Historic Preservation Commission. She expressed gratitude for the opportunity to help preserve Brighton’s history.

Discussion Items

  • 2026 Budget and Related Resolutions (Items 7A–7E): The city presented the $279,681,910 budget, highlighting $5 million in grant funding, 11 new positions, and capital projects including a water treatment plant and recplex. Changes from the proposed budget included refinements to the police department renovation cost ($3.9 million), correction of a $577,000 duplicate cost in the wastewater fund, addition of $30,000 in Legacy Foundation donations, $316,000 in approved grant allocations, $400,000 for water service line investigations, and $40,000 in fleet fund reserves. The mill levy remained at 6.650 mills (unchanged for 20 years), expected to generate $6.2 million. The fee resolution included a new $2 per ride microtransit fee with discounts for seniors, teens, and veterans, plus utility rate adjustments (wastewater from Lochbuie passed through without markup). The lodging tax resolution allocated $250,000 from reserves to move the Brighton City Museum. Councilmembers expressed support for the budget’s fiscal responsibility and the microtransit program.

  • Brighton Crossing Annexation (Items 7F–7I): The council held final readings and approved annexation of approximately 7.712 acres into the city (8-0), the Bromley Park PUD 35th Amendment for single-family detached zoning (8-0), consent to include the property in Brighton Crossing Metropolitan District No. 7 (8-0), and the annexation agreement (8-0). The agreement requires the developer to annex and extend North Golden Eagle Parkway, design and construct the East Bridge Street median, install underground utilities, and build a missing trail connection north of Longs Peak Street. Parks and open space dedications were already met by the master development. The annexation will allow completion of Golden Eagle Parkway and improve traffic flow.

  • Sales Tax & Licensing Code Update (Item 8A): An ordinance to update the municipal code regarding sales tax, licensing for massage facilities, and simplification of kennel licensing was introduced. Changes aim to streamline processes and ensure compliance. Councilmember Green asked about food trucks; staff clarified mobile vendors require licenses including fire and health inspections. The ordinance passed 8-0.

  • Historic Preservation Commission Code Amendments (Item 8B): An ordinance to amend code sections relating to the Historic Preservation Commission, reducing required members from 7 to 5 and quorum from 4 to 3, in line with state Certified Local Government guidelines. The council approved 8-0.

  • Natural Medicine Businesses (Item 9A, Final Reading): An ordinance amending Articles 4 and 11 of the Land Use and Development Code to include regulations for natural medicine businesses passed 7-1.

  • Utilities Maintenance Contract (Item 11A): A resolution awarding a master price agreement to Core & Main LP for utilities maintenance supplies up to $1,000,000 was approved 8-0.

Key Outcomes

  • 2026 Budget Adoption: Passed 8-0.
  • Mill Levy Resolution (6.650 mills): Passed 8-0.
  • Fee Resolution: Passed 6-2 (Councilmember Green voted no citing lack of clarity on residential dumpster fees).
  • Donations Public Purpose Resolution: Passed 8-0 (donations to Brighton Legacy Foundation, Boys & Girls Club, Almost Home, and Colorado Legal Services).
  • Lodging Tax Allocation for Museum: Passed 8-0.
  • Brighton Crossing Annexation and Related Items: All passed 8-0.
  • Sales Tax and Licensing Code Update: Passed 8-0.
  • Historic Preservation Code Amendments: Passed 8-0.
  • Natural Medicine Business Regulations (Final): Passed 7-1.
  • Utilities Maintenance Agreement with Core & Main: Passed 8-0.
  • Upcoming Meeting: No meeting on October 28; next meeting is a business meeting on November 4, 2025. Council will then reconvene as the South Brighton General Improvement District Board.

Reports

  • Mayor Mills: Reported on the Dr. COG TIP process delay, attendance at Metro Denver EDC event, cemetery walk, BizWest roundtable, and upcoming events (Harvest Fest, Loves Truck Stop ribbon cutting). Encouraged voting in local elections.
  • City Manager Martinez: Recognized staff awards: Tyron King (Colorado Parks & Rec New Professional of the Year) and the APWA award for the Michael Woodruff Municipal Service Center. He will attend the ICMA conference.
  • Council Reports: Several councilmembers highlighted the candidate forums run by the youth commission, the Spooky Sprint 5K for Almost Home (October 25), and discussions with Judge Barajas about teen court. Councilmember Snyder expressed concern about red tape for downtown businesses and reported on CML policy committee topics including sex offender facility rules, AVAS on highways, and noise regulation for special events.

Meeting Transcript

Let's call this meeting to order. I'd like to call to order our city council meeting for Tuesday, October twenty first, twenty twenty-five. I'm going to ask Councilmember Fiddler to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Council Member Fiddler. Live and in person. Councilmember Pelowski. Here. Councilmember Snyder. Here. Councilmember Tadeo. Present. Council Member Worth. Here. You have a quorum, Your Honor. Thank you. Next is the consent agenda. Madam City Clerk, please read that into the agenda, or please read it, read that to the record. Item two A approval of the September sixteenth, twenty twenty-five City Council minutes. Item two B, a resolution of the City Council of the City of Brighton, Colorado, approving employee benefits for twenty twenty-six and authorizing the city manager to execute benefit contract documents and to set the twenty twenty-six holiday schedule. Item two C a resolution of the City Council of the City of Brighton, Colorado, accepting the proposal of Wells Fargo Bank National Association for a new snowplow fleet for the contract amount of four million two hundred thousand dollars and authorizing the city manager or designee to execute the contract on behalf of the city. Motion passes eight to zero. And I'd like to also thank the members of the public works department that are here. They are getting some great snowplows out of this. So good job. Next is the approval of the regular agenda. Who'd like to make that motion? Councilmember Pulowski. Thank you, Mayor. I'd like to move for approval of our regular agenda tonight. And then Councilmember Tadeo. Thank you. I'll second that. We have a first and second to approve the agenda as presented. Roll call vote. Motion passes eight to zero. Next ceremonies, item four A. Swearing in of new board and commission member, City Manager Martinez. Thank you, Mayor. Good evening, Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem, and members of council. At this time, I'll ask Sophia to join our city clerk at the podium. Raise your right hand, repeat after me. I state your name. I, Sophia Imperioli, do solemnly declare, do solemnly declare and affirm and affirm that I will support the Constitution that I will support the Constitution of the United States. Of the United States, the Constitution, the Constitution of the State of Colorado. Of the State of Colorado, and the Office of the Office of Historic Preservation, Historic Preservation, Commission member, Commission member, and will faithfully perform and will faithfully perform the duties of the office, the duties of the office. I'm about to enter. I'm about to end. Thank you, Sophia. Would you like to say a few words at the mic? I'm very grateful for this opportunity.

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