OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Erie Town Council Meeting – August 12, 2025: Makerspace Approval, Housing Needs Assessment, and Affordable Housing Ordinance Debate

Town Council — Tuesday, August 12, 2025
BodyErie, Colorado
SessionTown Council
DateTuesday, August 12, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:27:34

Transcript — Verbatim
3:08

Order order, the town council meeting on August twelfth, twenty twenty-five.

3:13

Will you please rise and join me in the Pledge of Allegiance?

3:34

All right, will the town clerk please take roll?

3:41

Councilmember Pass Marelli.

3:44

Councilmember O'Connor.

3:45

Here.

3:46

Mayor Pro Tempell.

3:47

Here.

3:48

Mayor Moore?

3:49

Here.

3:49

Council Member Bear.

3:51

Present.

3:51

Council Member Mortalero.

3:53

Here.

3:54

And Councilmember Hoback.

3:55

Here.

3:56

Mayor, you have a quorum.

3:57

All right.

3:58

Do we have a motion to approve the agenda tonight?

4:01

So moved.

4:02

Second.

4:03

We have a motion and second.

4:05

All in favor say aye.

4:07

Aye.

4:07

All opposed say no.

4:09

Motion carries.

4:10

All right.

4:11

Bear with me.

4:11

I've got to have a number of items on the consent agenda.

4:14

Uh the first item is item twenty-five one thirty-seven approval of the of the July twenty-second.

4:21

Twenty twenty-five town council meeting minutes.

5:00

Item 25427, an ordinance of the town council of town of Erie accepting the transfer of rural property from Morgan Hill Metropolitan District No.

5:09

3 to the town and approving the associated special warranty deed.

5:14

Item 25432, a resolution to the town council of the town of Erie approving the terms and conditions for the sale, a power generation system accompanying a purchase order from Cummins Incorporated.

5:27

Item 25417, a resolution of the town council of the town of Erie approving an amendment to the construction contract with territory unlimited for the Erie Commons irrigation pond improvements.

5:39

Item 25422, a resolution of the town council of town and Erie approving the second amendment to the development agreement for the Westerly filing number one.

5:49

Item 25408, a resolution of the Town Council of Town of Erie approving the engagement letter and legal services agreement with the law firm of Lyons Gaddis for the Water Legal Matters.

6:01

Item 25457, a resolution of the Town Council of Town of Erie approving Alex Wicks to the historic preservation advisory board.

6:10

And the last item on the consent agenda tonight is item 25425, a resolution of the town council of the town of Erie approving the first amendment to the construction contract with JOC construction for the Kenosha Farms culvert replacement.

6:24

I have a motion to approve the consent agenda.

6:27

So moved.

6:28

Second.

6:29

We have a motion and a second.

6:31

All in favor say aye.

6:33

Aye.

6:33

Aye.

6:34

All opposed say no.

6:35

All right.

6:36

The consent agenda is approved.

6:39

All right, we'll go on to public comment.

6:40

And do we have anybody signed up tonight?

6:43

All right.

6:43

I will read the public comment kind of rules.

6:48

Um let's see.

6:49

Please remember the public comment is not an interactive QA forum, but rather a time for you to state your comments on a particular item or issue.

6:58

Public comment provides the opportunity to discuss items that are not on the agenda or consent agenda items only.

7:05

Please sign up using the kiosk in the lobby.

7:08

When called upon, please state your full name and location for the record.

7:12

Public comment is limited to three minutes per person.

7:15

You will be given a 20-second warning when you're when your three minutes are almost up.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Affordable Housing█████████████████████████████████████████████47%
Community Engagement███████████12%
Parks and Recreation██████████10%
Municipal Governance███████7%
Procedural█████5%
Airport Management█████5%
Public Engagement███3%
Transportation Safety███3%
Planning And Development██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Erie Town Council Meeting – August 12, 2025

The Erie Town Council met on August 12, 2025, at 6:30 PM in Council Chambers. The meeting covered approval of a construction contract for the Erie Makerspace, a presentation on the DRCOG Regional Housing Needs Assessment required by SB24-174, and a public hearing on an ordinance to remove alternative standards for affordable housing projects. The council also heard public comments on airport expansion, the makerspace, and housing. The affordable housing ordinance was adopted in a 4-3 vote, repealing the previous alternative standards.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved the July 22, 2025 regular meeting minutes and July 29, 2025 special meeting minutes.
  • Approved a resolution (25-131) assigning the 2025 Private Activity Bond Allocation to CHFA.
  • Approved a resolution (25-135) for the Third Amendment to the Disposition and Development Agreement for Erie Town Center.
  • Approved an ordinance (027-2025) accepting transfer of real property from Morgan Hill Metropolitan District No. 3.
  • Approved a resolution (25-139) for the purchase of a power generation system from Cummins, Inc.
  • Approved a resolution (25-137) amending the construction contract with Territory Unlimited for Erie Commons Irrigation Pond improvements.
  • Approved a resolution (25-134) for the Second Amendment to the Development Agreement for Westerly Filing No. 1.
  • Approved a resolution (25-129) for engagement letter with Lyons Gaddis for water legal matters.
  • Approved a resolution (25-141) appointing Alex Wicks to the Historic Preservation Advisory Board.
  • Approved a resolution (25-140) amending the construction contract with JOC Construction for Kenosha Farms Culvert replacement.
  • All consent items were approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Pam Taysheda (Cottonwood Vista, District 1) spoke in strong opposition to the proposed expansion of the Erie Municipal Airport, citing increased noise from flight school touch-and-go exercises, declining property values, and the airport's financial losses. She urged council to vote no on expansion.
  • LaShawn Jane spoke in support of celebrating the Hindu festival of Raksha Bandan (Universal Oneness Day) and invited council to recognize the tradition.
  • Melita Pierce (Old Town resident) expressed support for the Erie Makerspace, noting her need as a teacher for community tools and space.
  • David Bickford (Erie resident) spoke in strong support of the makerspace, referencing Robert Putnam's "Bowling Alone" and the importance of rebuilding social capital through shared spaces.
  • Online commenters (Cliff Zwart, Ben Hempel, and others) addressed the affordable housing ordinance, with Cliff Zwart urging repeal of Ordinance 17-2023 due to its deficiencies, and Ben Hempel (Planning Commission Chair) urging rejection of the removal and instead collaboration on revisions.
  • Janet Brown (Erie resident) emphasized the need for income-appropriate housing for seniors and community connection.
  • Bob Bratis (Vice Chair of Planning Commission) supported the commission's recommendation to work with council to develop updated fast-track ordinances.
  • Ed Gion (District 2 resident) requested clearer community education on what "affordable housing" means and urged preserving small-town feel with thoughtful housing design.

Discussion Items

Erie Makerspace Construction Contract (Resolution 25-136)

  • Director Luke Bolinger and Economic Development Manager Julian (standing in for Stephanie Pitts-Nagus) presented the project. The makerspace will be located in the Schofield Quonset Hut, with a

Meeting Transcript

Order order, the town council meeting on August twelfth, twenty twenty-five. Will you please rise and join me in the Pledge of Allegiance? All right, will the town clerk please take roll? Councilmember Pass Marelli. Councilmember O'Connor. Here. Mayor Pro Tempell. Here. Mayor Moore? Here. Council Member Bear. Present. Council Member Mortalero. Here. And Councilmember Hoback. Here. Mayor, you have a quorum. All right. Do we have a motion to approve the agenda tonight? So moved. Second. We have a motion and second. All in favor say aye. Aye. All opposed say no. Motion carries. All right. Bear with me. I've got to have a number of items on the consent agenda. Uh the first item is item twenty-five one thirty-seven approval of the of the July twenty-second. Twenty twenty-five town council meeting minutes. Item 25427, an ordinance of the town council of town of Erie accepting the transfer of rural property from Morgan Hill Metropolitan District No. 3 to the town and approving the associated special warranty deed. Item 25432, a resolution to the town council of the town of Erie approving the terms and conditions for the sale, a power generation system accompanying a purchase order from Cummins Incorporated. Item 25417, a resolution of the town council of the town of Erie approving an amendment to the construction contract with territory unlimited for the Erie Commons irrigation pond improvements. Item 25422, a resolution of the town council of town and Erie approving the second amendment to the development agreement for the Westerly filing number one. Item 25408, a resolution of the Town Council of Town of Erie approving the engagement letter and legal services agreement with the law firm of Lyons Gaddis for the Water Legal Matters. Item 25457, a resolution of the Town Council of Town of Erie approving Alex Wicks to the historic preservation advisory board. And the last item on the consent agenda tonight is item 25425, a resolution of the town council of the town of Erie approving the first amendment to the construction contract with JOC construction for the Kenosha Farms culvert replacement. I have a motion to approve the consent agenda. So moved. Second. We have a motion and a second. All in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. All opposed say no. All right. The consent agenda is approved. All right, we'll go on to public comment.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com