Brighton City Council Study Session – May 12, 2026

The Brighton City Council held a study session on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, beginning at 6:00 PM. The meeting covered updates from the Brighton Legacy Foundation, proposed amendments to cemetery rules, a strategic plan update, and two major public works projects: the 2026 Transportation Preservation Improvement Project (TPIP) and the Sable Boulevard Intersection Improvements. Council received presentations, asked questions, and provided direction on future actions.

Consent Calendar

• April 2026 Executed Contract Listing – No discussion; the listing was acknowledged without questions.

Discussion Items

Brighton Legacy Foundation Update (6:15 PM)

• Sue Corbett (new board member), Yvette Martinez (treasurer), and youth member Giselle presented the update.
• The Foundation awarded $229,900 in grants for 2026 to local nonprofits, including the Laridon Hall Society ($5,000) and Ralston House ($10,000).
• For 2027, the Foundation requested a budget increase from $230,000 to $280,000, citing growing community need. Grant requests for 2027 totaled $253,900, leaving a shortfall of $24,000 under the current budget.
• Councilmember Green questioned a $10,000 decrease in funding for St. Augustine Community Food Pantry; Yvette Martinez explained the reduction was based on the pantry’s own statement that their congregation was meeting needs. Councilmember Taddeo added that the board carefully evaluates need.
• Councilmember Collins noted that any unused funds would be returned to the city. Mayor Mills supported a predictable percentage-of-revenue allocation for charitable giving. No formal vote was taken; the request will be considered during budget season.

Amend Cemetery Rules (6:30 PM)

• Cemetery Manager Rihanna Natale presented proposed updates to the cemetery rules and regulations, last revised in 2019.
• Key changes include: adding a table of contents and glossary, consolidating payment plan terms, adding disinterment rules (including release of liability and notice requirements), reducing the border requirement from 4 inches to 3 inches, requiring granite foundations instead of concrete, and limiting decorations to the width of the monument (no wider than the lot).
• Holiday decoration rules were clarified: decorations allowed two days before a holiday and must be removed seven days after; no items are removed from November through March.
• Councilmember Green asked about the definition of “ossuarium”; Natale explained it is a communal cremation chamber with a memory band.
• The item will be placed on the June 2, 2026 consent agenda for approval.

Strategic Plan Update (6:45 PM)

• Pierce Miller, Management Analyst II, presented proposed updates to the city’s strategic plan based on council feedback from a February retreat.
• Changes include: a new vision area “Stewardship and Sustainability”, consolidation of “Organizational Excellence” and “Fiscal Resilience” into “Organizational Excellence and Accountability”, and renaming “Safe and Healthy Community” to “Safe and Secure Community”.
• Councilmember Padilla raised concerns about tasks that are maintenance rather than strategic, and noted that the vision statement for “Destination for Recreation and Cultural Amenities” should include visitors or move resident-focused goals to other areas. He also requested that “attainability and affordability” be reflected in the “Intentional Community and Infrastructure Planning” vision statement.
• Councilmember Carbajal praised how well staff captured council’s comments. Councilmember Fiedler challenged council to provide collective direction rather than individual critiques.
• City Manager Martinez stressed that the plan is a living document and that the budget and innovation team continuously monitors progress.
• The updated plan will be presented again in about a month for formal adoption.

Sable Boulevard Intersection Improvements (7:15 PM, presented before TPIP)

• Director Greg LeBrie presented four intersection improvements: a roundabout at 136th Avenue & Sable Boulevard, widening at 144th Avenue & Sable, restriping for dedicated left-turn lanes at 132nd Avenue & Sable, and signal/ADA improvements at Bromley Lane & 4th Avenue.
• Six bids were received, all under budget. Staff recommended awarding the contract to SEMA Construction at $7,716,512.
• Construction is scheduled to start June 1, 2026, with a 180-day completion target. The 136th Avenue and 144th Avenue intersections will be prioritized.
• Councilmember Green asked about lane closures; LeBrie said two lanes each direction will be maintained, with an incentive for early completion. Councilmember Snyder noted that the E470 interchange at Sable is opening in July, six months ahead of schedule, increasing the urgency.
• Councilmember Carbajal expressed strong support, noting she witnessed an accident at 136th & Sable.
• The contract award will be on the next regular meeting consent agenda.

Public Works 2026 Transportation Preservation Improvement Project (TPIP) (7:30 PM, originally scheduled at 7:15)

• Joe Leon, Assistant Director of Public Works, presented the asphalt portion of the TPIP. Concrete and striping bids were under the presentation threshold and will be awarded separately.
• The project covers 40 areas across the city, including 108,000 square yards of slurry seal, 63,700 square yards of mill and overlay, 30,000 pounds of crack seal, 1,200 square yards of concrete, and four pedestrian flashing beacons.
• Four bids were received for the asphalt work; staff recommended Asphalt Specialties Co. Inc. at $1,890,825. The previous year’s contractor bid $1 million more.
• Councilmember Snyder requested that $250,000–$300,000 from public works be allocated to pave and improve Cabbage Street downtown, partnering with the Brighton Urban Renewal Authority (BRURA) which is willing to contribute $250,000. BRURA sunsets soon, and Snyder argued the road work is a public works responsibility. City Manager Martinez said staff will work to find a compromise, but the TPIP project itself should not be held hostage.
• Councilmember Carbajal requested speed tables on 10th Avenue between Bromley and the baseball fields, citing safety concerns. Leon said traffic data will be analyzed.
• Councilmember Padilla asked about traffic data collection; Leon noted the city uses a subscription service (Urban SDK) to track cell-phone data and can provide speed and volume information for any street within a day.
• The TPIP contract award will be on the next regular meeting consent agenda.

Key Outcomes

• The Brighton Legacy Foundation request for a $280,000 budget in 2027 will be considered during summer budget discussions.
• The Cemetery Rules amendments will be presented for approval on June 2, 2026.
• The Strategic Plan update will be presented again in about a month for formal adoption; council feedback will be incorporated.
• The Sable Boulevard Intersection Improvements contract award ($7,716,512 to SEMA Construction) will be on the next consent agenda.
• The TPIP asphalt contract award ($1,890,825 to Asphalt Specialties Co. Inc.) will be on the next consent agenda. Council directed staff to explore adding downtown paving (Cabbage Street) as a joint project with BRURA, with a report back to council.
• Staff will conduct traffic analysis on 10th Avenue and other streets (including 12th and 13th) regarding speed concerns, especially during baseball games and school hours.