Erie Town Council Meeting – March 24, 2026: Fire Sprinkler Repeal, Drought Response, Resident Awards

The Erie Town Council met on March 24, 2026, at 2:00 PM to address a full agenda including public comments on ICE enforcement fears and town mineral rights, a drought and water restrictions update, a continued public hearing on repealing the residential fire sprinkler mandate, and recognition of the 2025 Outstanding Resident and Olympic gold medalist Jacob Slavin. The council approved the consent agenda, voted 4–3 to repeal the sprinkler requirement, and discussed water supply challenges and transparency concerns regarding executive session negotiations.

Consent Calendar

• Approved 17 consent agenda items, including meeting minutes, proclamations for Earth Week, Arbor Day, and Law Enforcement Property and Evidence Technicians Week, and resolutions/ordinances related to easements, service agreements, property purchases, and airport maintenance.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Anna Clark (Erie resident, District 2): Read an email describing her daughter’s fear of ICE after seeing news reports; urged the council to acknowledge residents’ fears and show leadership.
• Laurel O. (Erie regular): Spoke as a white woman raised in a multiracial home; described conditions at the Frederick ICE ERO office (10 miles away), where detainees are held up to 72 hours (and sometimes longer, e.g., 34 days); urged the council to act.
• Shannon Milliken (Thornton resident, parent of Erie student): Recognized recent council outreach but asked for a public proclamation acknowledging families’ fear of ICE; argued for proactive leadership to prevent harm.
• Cammy Namath (Erie Uplink volunteer): Thanked the town for a community grant that supports the Tiger Packs food assistance program serving 160 students from 80 families; noted costs have doubled since 2019.
• Dave Sullivan (Erie High School Education Foundation): Thanked for a community grant that will fund $1,000 scholarships (six lifetime student grants, one $3,000 top applicant award, $2,000 staff scholarship); reported 419 scholarships totaling $751,500 given since 2007.
• Claire Scott (25-year Erie resident): Supported earlier speakers; asked the council to issue a resolution acknowledging fear and pledging to protect community members’ rights.
• Steve Drew (Erie resident, Collier’s Hill): Requested dedicated public meetings on potential sale of town mineral rights and oil/gas negotiations with Civitas; criticized the use of executive sessions for six months; asked council to commit not to vote until a full public process is completed; questioned the role of a former Civitas COO hired as consultant.
• Tanya Sharp (Collier’s Hill): Opposed selling mineral rights; cited the unprecedented Draco Pad project and asked for public hearings.
• Amy Becker (Erie resident): Urged council to listen to residents and not make decisions behind closed doors; committed to attending meetings regularly.
• Charlene Bakeman (Erie resident): Expressed concerns about closed-door discussions on mineral rights and hiring of a former oil/gas executive; asked for public meetings to explain rationale and warned about potential conflicts of interest.
• Marcy Lorde (Collier’s Hill): Asked the council to conduct impact studies on home values and environment before any vote on mineral rights; suggested a ballot measure for such a big decision.
• Meredith Canoe (Collier’s Hill): Called for transparency and a ballot measure on mineral rights; noted that lack of transparency breeds mistrust.
• Brianna Brown (Compass Neighborhood): Requested a 0.3-mile sidewalk on 119th Street to connect her neighborhood to Rex Ranch school; noted children cannot safely walk or bike to school; asked for the project to be prioritized in capital planning.
• Sam Fogelman (District 2): Urged council to take immediate action to protect residents from ICE enforcement; asked for resolutions and democratic protections.

Recognition and Proclamations

• 2025 Outstanding Resident Award: Lisa Bustamante presented the award to Dave Sullivan, recognized for his fundraising, volunteerism, and community leadership.
• Jacob Slavin Recognition Month Proclamation: Mayor Pro Tem Bell read a proclamation designating April 2026 as “Jacob Slavin Month” in Erie, honoring the NHL defenseman and Olympic gold medalist (Team USA, 2026). A video message from Slavin was played, and a commemorative plaque was presented to his family.

Drought and Water Restrictions Update

• Utilities Director Todd Festison and Sustainability Specialist Dylan King presented on drought conditions and a recent water supply emergency. Key points:
  • The emergency on March 22 was triggered by early irrigation demand (jumping from winter baseline of 2 million gallons/day to 3 million) combined with a winter supply of only 3.5 million gallons treatment capacity, not by drought per se.
  • Snowpack in the watershed is extremely low (50% of normal in some areas); March 2026 is on track to be the warmest on record in 131 years.
  • Staff recommends a voluntary two-day watering schedule once summer supplies come online (early April): odd addresses water Tuesday/Friday, even addresses Monday/Thursday, with an optional third day in hot/dry conditions.
  • The town is not currently in a drought stage but will likely enter Stage 1 soon. Mandatory restrictions may be considered later if conditions worsen.
  • Conservation programs: water efficiency rebates, “Slow the Flow” sprinkler consultations, turf replacement rebate (increasingly popular). Lake Erie repairs (dam cutoff wall) are ongoing through June.
  • Council members thanked staff for quick communication and urged continued public outreach.

Discussion Items

• Ordinance 11-2026 – Repeal of Residential Fire Sprinkler Requirement: Continued public hearing (from October 28, 2025) on an ordinance to remove the automatic sprinkler system requirement for single-family attached and detached homes from the Erie Municipal Code.
  • Staff Presentation: Director of Development Sarah Namela reviewed the history (requirement added in 2022 with adoption of 2021 IRC), builder-reported costs ($7,500–$12,000+ per home), and analysis of optional approaches (sprinkler-ready homes, infrastructure only, builder option); few homeowners choose sprinklers when offered.
  • Public Testimony:
    • Supporting repeal: Representatives from KB Home, HBA Metro Denver, TriPoint Homes, Dreamark Homes, and Heinz (Erie Gateway partner) argued that the mandate adds $15,000+, pricing out 2,300 residents per $1,000 increase; modern homes are already safer (80% of fatal fires in pre-2000 homes); 48 states have not adopted the mandate. Heidi Majarek (Denver) and Tanya Hayward (Old Town) also supported repeal on cost/affordability grounds.
    • Opposing repeal: Deputy Fire Marshals Doug Saba and Gregory Wetzbarger (Mountain View Fire Protection District) presented NFPA data showing a 90% reduction in death risk, 60% reduction in fire injuries, 50% reduction in firefighter injuries, and 70% reduction in property loss with sprinklers. They argued that sprinklers conserve water (use 16 gpm vs. 500+ gpm from fire hoses) and reduce community disruption. Resident Mike Eggleston also opposed, citing life safety and environmental benefits.
  • Council Deliberation:
    • Councilmember Baer (no vote against repeal) emphasized health and safety, firefighter risk reduction, and water conservation benefits.
    • Councilmember Pessar Morelli (no) cited safety and environmental resilience.
    • Councilmember Mortlero (yes) balanced safety with affordability, noting added costs without guarantee of passing savings to buyers.
    • Councilmember Hoback (no) cited personal experience of friends who lost home, reliance on first responders’ advice.
    • Mayor Pro Tem Bell (yes) and Councilmember O’Connor (yes) focused on affordability and consumer choice; O’Connor noted that buyers in new homes do not value sprinklers and that maintenance costs add burden.
    • Mayor Moore (yes) concluded that affordability and option availability support repeal, while acknowledging fire safety improvements in modern construction.
  • Vote: Motion to approve Ordinance 11-2026 passed 4–3 (Mortelaro, O'Connor, Bell, Moore in favor; Pessar Morelli, Baer, Hoback opposed).

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda approved unanimously.
• Outstanding Resident Award: Presented to Dave Sullivan; his brick will be placed at Erie Community Park.
• Jacob Slavin Month proclaimed for April 2026.
• Drought Response: Staff will begin messaging a voluntary two-day watering schedule starting early April; continue conservation programs; return to council if mandatory restrictions become necessary.
• Fire Sprinkler Ordinance: Ordinance 11-2026 (repealing residential fire sprinkler requirement for single-family attached/detached homes) passed by a vote of 4–3. The ordinance removes the automatic sprinkler mandate but homeowners may still choose to install them.
• Executive Session: Council voted to go into executive session to discuss water supply matters and real property negotiations (two items).
• Upcoming: State of the Town meeting on April 2, 2026, at 6 PM at Erie Community Center (as announced by Mayor Moore).