Brighton City Council Meeting – October 20, 2026

The Brighton City Council met on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers. Mayor Gregory Mills presided, with Mayor Pro Tem Peter Padilla and Councilmembers Carbajal, Collins, Fiedler, Green, Snyder, Taddeo, and Worth present. The meeting included approval of the consent agenda, a second reading of a one-year data center moratorium, two public hearings on land use and code amendments, scheduling of a special meeting, and council reports.

Consent Calendar

• Council approved the consent agenda 9–0, including:
  • Approval of the September 15, 2026 City Council minutes.
  • A resolution approving 2027 employee benefits and authorizing the City Manager to execute benefit contracts.
  • A resolution approving an amendment with DHM Design Corporation for Sports Complex Design Services in the amount of $170,490.
  • A resolution allocating Section 179D IRS energy-efficient building design tax deductions to D2C Architects, Inc. for the Michael Woodruff Municipal Service Center.
  • Final reading of the Bromley Park PUD 38th Amendment for an approximately 13.401-acre property northeast of the Interstate 76 frontage road and North 60th Avenue.
  • A resolution accepting maintenance of drainage facilities for Tract A of the Cherry Meadows Subdivision Filing No. 1 (approximately 1.36 acres).
  • A resolution approving Change Order No. 3 with Engineering Analytics, Inc. for the Lupton Meadow Reservoir Design Project in the amount of $1,171,024.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Tom Lampo delivered an opening prayer, referencing scripture and asking for wisdom during a critical time in the nation's history and the upcoming election.
• Avery Mason urged the city to replace government lawns with zero-scaped, pollinator-friendly landscaping, citing a historic drought. They claimed government lawns – including those near the detention facility and coroner's office – are watered daily while residents face watering restrictions, and estimated each football-field-sized lawn uses 500,000 to 1 million gallons of water per day.
• Charles Ellison, a 40-year resident of Brighton, opposed the data center proposal, raising questions about transparency, timing, non-disclosure agreements, and citing polling that 82% of the public strongly object to data centers near homes.
• Sandra Samuelson, a Brighton resident for 22 years, gave four reasons to deny data centers permanently: AI risks, excessive electricity and water demand, noise/heat pollution, and national security risks. She said the current grid cannot support data centers and asked the council to "just say no."
• Lori Morris thanked Councilmember Padilla for the moratorium and Councilmember Wirth for extending it. She referenced a records request suggesting the proposed data center initially lacked closed-loop cooling and adequate sound mitigation, and thanked a community member and city staff for raising concerns. She also noted two active bills in the House, including one from Congressman Gabe Evans, that could undo the moratorium.
• Kelly Houston expressed concerns about noise, light pollution, grid strain, water consumption, and health impacts, noting Silver Peaks has over 2,000 homes within 1,000 feet of the proposed data center. She asked the council to continue the one-year moratorium.
• Ron Garrett, a 23-year resident, questioned the value of zoning if it can be changed for the first buyer, asking the council to "keep your word" to residents who moved in relying on existing zoning.
• Christy Douglas, from Commerce City, praised Brighton residents for their engagement and urged the council to pass the moratorium, warning that councils that ignore residents create mistrust and apathy.
• Abigail Scarpalastraub, a parent from Lochbuie, said she initially would have seen the data center from her front porch. She urged the council to continue the moratorium and establish mandatory rules to protect children, the environment, and water.

Discussion Items

• Data Center Moratorium (Item 6A – Second Reading): The council considered a final reading of an ordinance enacting a one-year moratorium on accepting, processing, or approving permits, licenses, zoning, or other land use applications where a data center is a proposed use. Mayor Pro Tem Padilla noted it was placed on the agenda as a second reading. Public testimony was overwhelmingly in favor of the moratorium. Councilmember Green moved the item, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Padilla. The ordinance passed unanimously 9–0.
• Bromley Park PUD 39th Amendment (Item 7A – First Reading): Principal Planner Nick DiMario presented a request to increase accessory outdoor storage allowances for an approximately 5.92-acre industrial property at 196 Bromley Business Parkway. The property is intersected by a Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad spur and contains about 3.13 acres of easements and right-of-way, leaving only 2.79 acres of developable area. The amendment would allow accessory outdoor storage to exceed the primary structure footprint, subject to parking, buffer, and landscape standards. Staff noted the original PUD and pre-2020 code allowed unlimited accessory outdoor storage, and the change is intended to improve development feasibility. Hugh Seifert of IDS Real Estate Group, representing Trader Joe's, explained the proposal includes a 6,300-square-foot maintenance/truck wash building, 12 auto stalls, and 4-5 trailer stalls to supplement an adjacent existing facility. He stated the addition would not add traffic because trailers would already be going to the main warehouse. The Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval on September 24, 2026. No public comments were offered. The motion by Mayor Pro Tem Padilla, seconded by Councilmember Fiedler, passed 9–0.
• Floodplain Code Amendments (Item 7B – First Reading): Director of Utilities Scott Olson presented amendments to Section 10.02 of the Land Use and Development Code regarding flood control district regulations. The city joined the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) in 1977 and recently applied to join the Community Rating System (CRS). FEMA conducted a Community Assistance Visit and required minor modifications to definitions and the variance process to match state and federal requirements. Changes include updating definitions and clarifying that variances can only be granted to properties one-half acre or smaller. The amendments are required to remain in the NFIP, not just to participate in the higher CRS program. The Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval on September 10, 2026. No public comments were offered. The motion by Councilmember Snyder, seconded by Councilmember Carbajal, passed 9–0.
• Cancel November 3 Meeting (Item 11A): City Manager Martinez explained the election-night meeting would be canceled to allow participation in election activities. Councilmember Green joked he would vote no because he has "no life." Mayor Pro Tem Padilla noted the council is required to meet twice in November and that a special meeting would need to be scheduled regardless. The motion by Mayor Pro Tem Padilla, seconded by Councilmember Worth, passed 8–1.
• Schedule Special Meeting November 10, 2026 (Item 11B): The council approved scheduling a special city council meeting on November 10, 2026, at 6:00 PM to handle items postponed from November 3, including Brighton Urban Renewal Authority Board appointments, recognition of 2026 Brighton Civic Academy graduates, the 2027 budget, mill levy, 2027 fees, public purpose funds, East Ridge Addition PUD Major Amendment, Parks and Open Space LUDC amendments, Article 10 LUDC amendments, Bromley Park PUD 39th Amendment, the Lochbuie to Metro Water Recovery Northern Treatment Plant Lift Station and Pipeline Project, and the Board & Commission Vacancy Update. The motion by Councilmember Green, seconded by Councilmember Worth, passed 9–0.

Reports

• Mayor Gregory Mills reported on the Economic Development Board interviews for a small business director, preliminary business award nominees, the CML policy committee legislative preview, the Metro Mayors Caucus discussion on ALPRs, the State of Weld County event, a site selector dinner, a panel with Charleston Chamber visitors, and the Pennock Center rebranding celebration.
• Department Directors: Commander Portillo provided a brief police department update. Mayor Mills clarified that a recent water main break was incorrectly described as a sinkhole.
• City Manager Martinez announced the passing of Robert Smith, the city's former economic development director, calling him "a fantastic human being" and "larger than life." He noted Smith had served in Broomfield, Lakewood, Thornton, and Adams County and was proud of Brighton winning the medium-sized city of the year award from EDCC.
• Councilmembers shared updates: Councilmember Fiedler noted the Lockbuie Sewer Board meeting and his anniversary travel; Mayor Pro Tem Padilla participated in a data center workshop with Civic Results and Metro Mayors Caucus; Councilmember Green mentioned upcoming E470 and NATO meetings and the Harvest Festival; Councilmember Worth attended an E470 board meeting, the ACRE Northwest bus tour, a Bird Conservancy of the Rockies fundraiser, a Legacy Foundation meeting, and a BYC meeting regarding the IMAGE Summit.

Key Outcomes

• The one-year data center moratorium ordinance passed on final reading 9–0.
• The Bromley Park PUD 39th Amendment (first reading) passed 9–0.
• The Floodplain Code Amendments (first reading) passed 9–0.
• The November 3, 2026 City Council meeting was canceled 8–1.
• A special City Council meeting was scheduled for November 10, 2026, at 6:00 PM, passing 9–0.
• No executive session was held; the meeting adjourned with the next regular meeting set for November 10, 2026.