Erie Town Council Meeting – January 28, 2025: Annexation Continuation, Sustainability Plan Contract, and Various Approvals
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Erie Town Council Meeting – January 28, 2025
The Town Council of Erie met on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, at 6:30 PM in Council Chambers to conduct regular business. The meeting included a public hearing on supplemental budget revenues, a continued annexation hearing, and approval of a contract to develop a climate and sustainability action plan. Key actions included the unanimous approval of the consent agenda, adoption of the three-mile plan, updates to alcohol beverage licensing, and a budget supplemental for enterprise funds. A public comment was heard about the Morgan Hill park. The annexation hearing was continued to February 25 and March 11, 2025. A $117,000 contract with Lotus Sustainability and Engineering was approved with a condition for a mid‑progress study session.
Consent Calendar
- Approved the minutes of the January 14, 2025 Town Council meeting.
- Proclaimed February 15, 2025 as School Resource Officer Appreciation Day.
- Approved Resolution 25‑013, consenting to the mayor's appointment of Lynette Peppler to the Erie Urban Renewal Authority.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Jeff Miller (89 Morgan Circle North, resident of Morgan Hill) spoke about the need for a promised park in the Morgan Hill neighborhood. He reported that the developer (Century Homes) had promised a park within four years, but completion is now uncertain. Miller stated that the neighborhood has ~500 homes and ~700 children, and that 78% of polled residents have kids at home, 40% would consider moving if the park is not built, and 50% of those polled have children who could age out. He urged the town to prioritize the park.
Discussion Items
- 2024 Outstanding Resident Award: Lori Bustamante presented the award to Bob Broadis, who was recognized for community contributions including bringing Boulder Philharmonic concerts to Erie, serving on the Erie Housing Partnership and Planning Commission, and leading Better Neighbors events. The award includes a commemorative brick in Community Park.
- Three‑Mile Plan Adoption (Resolution 25‑028): Planning Manager Kelly Driscoll explained that state law requires an annual three‑mile plan if the town wishes to annex land. The plan's boundary was adjusted to exclude properties west of Highway 287 due to infeasibility of utility service. The resolution was approved unanimously.
- Alcohol Beverage Licensing Updates (Ordinance 004‑2025): Deputy Town Clerk Kelsey Thede (presented by Town Clerk Debbie Stamp) detailed updates to Title 4, Chapter 8 of the Municipal Code to conform to state statute. Changes include administrative approval for special event permits, annual administrative renewal of tasting permits, and continued hearings for new liquor licenses. The ordinance was approved unanimously.
- Supplemental Revenues and Appropriations (Resolution 25‑016, Public Hearing): Finance Director Sara Hancock and Budget & Fiscal Manager Cassie Bethune presented a budget supplemental to update 2025 revenues for enterprise funds. After completing a rate study, the water fund revenue is increased by $8.2 million, and the storm drainage fund by just under $109,000. No public comment was offered. The resolution was approved unanimously.
- Erie West Annexation Continuation: Mayor Moore announced that due to the town attorney's conflict of interest (she is a property owner), the council would split the annexation (legislative) and zoning (quasi‑judicial) hearings. The public hearing on the annexation (Resolution 25‑019, Ordinance 006‑2025, and Resolution 25‑017) was continued to February 25, 2025 at 6:30 PM, and the zoning hearing was rescheduled to March 11, 2025 at 6:30 PM. The motion passed unanimously.
- Climate and Sustainability Action Plan Contract (Resolution 25‑007): Sustainability Manager Eryka Thorley and Environmental Services Director David Frank presented a contract with Lotus Sustainability and Engineering for $117,000 ($85,000 town funds, $30,000 Boulder County grant) to update the 2019 Sustainability Plan and incorporate a climate action plan. Councilmember Bear expressed concern about timing and competing priorities, but after discussion, a motion was made to approve the contract on the condition that a study session be held within six months with Lotus and relevant advisory boards. The motion passed on a roll call vote (7‑0).
Key Outcomes
- Consent agenda approved unanimously.
- Three‑mile plan (Resolution 25‑028) adopted unanimously.
- Alcohol beverage ordinance (Ordinance 004‑2025) adopted unanimously.
- Supplemental budget resolution (Resolution 25‑016) adopted unanimously.
- Erie West Annexation hearing continued to February 25, 2025; zoning hearing to March 11, 2025.
- Climate and Sustainability Action Plan contract (Resolution 25‑007) approved on a 7‑0 roll‑call vote, contingent on a mid‑progress study session.
- The meeting moved into executive session at approximately 9:00 PM to discuss legal advice regarding indemnification of elected officials and the Stratus/Redtail Ranch litigation, with the meeting to adjourn afterward.
Meeting Transcript
To order, this is the town council on January 28th, 2025. Will you please rise and join me in the Pledge of Allegiance? I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America for which it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice clouds. All right, Ms. Dump, will you please take roll call? Councilmember Pessaromelli. Councilmember O'Connor. Here. Mayor Pro Tem Bell. Here. Mayor Moore. Here. Council Member Bear. Present. Council Member Mortalero. Here. Councilmember Hoback. Here. Mayor, you have a quorum. All right. I'm going to just start by reading an intro on one of the agenda items before we actually go through and approve the agenda. I want to advise everyone of what will happen on agenda item number 25039. That is the public hearing on the annexation and zoning of the properties on Kenosha Road. I'll be asking the council to take a motion to continue the annexation hearing to our meeting on February 25th and the zoning hearing to March 11th. This is because one of the property owners petitioning in this case is our town attorney, and of course, she will be unable to advise us on that matter and will have to excuse herself. We have engaged special counsel to advise the council, and it is necessary for him to become familiar with the materials. Also, I know the council needs more time to review what has been presented before having the hearing. So I appreciate that some of you may have come tonight to testify on that. Please know that we very much want to hear your testimony. But we will be moving the meeting in time to the February 25th meeting, and we'll look forward to hearing from you then. I'll just add a little bit more in that the annexation and the zoning were grouped together. These are two different types of functions. One is what's called a legislative function, which is the annexation. That allows us as council to actually engage with the residents on that portion. The zoning is what is called quasi-judicial, where we act as judges and we cannot interact. And so we're going to split the two apart so we can actually, as a new council, be very transparent about this and be able to engage. All right. So with that, um to get my computer back on here. Actually, the agenda. I'm sorry. Approval of the agenda first, please. Oh, I'm sorry. Yes. Is there a motion to approve the agenda? So moved. Second. All right, there's a motion and second. Um all in favor, say aye. Aye. Aye.
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