Golden City Council Study Session and Regular Meeting – September 8, 2026

The City of Golden, Colorado, City Council convened a study session at 5:00 p.m. and a regular business meeting at 6:30 p.m. on September 8, 2026, in City Hall Council Chambers at 911 10th Street. The study session (chaired by Councilor Cameron) covered the Ore Cart transit Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) renewal and the city's overhead power line undergrounding policy. The regular meeting included public comment, council/staff updates, a subcommittee report on the third-party investigation, the Q3 Strategic Plan update, consent matters, four proclamations, Resolution 3354 (private activity bonds), and a public hearing on Resolution 3352 (Canyon View Business Park Replat C).

Study Session – Ore Cart IGA Renewal and Budget

• Principal Planner Matt Wempe sought Council feedback ahead of renegotiating the Ore Cart transit IGA with Colorado School of Mines (CSM). The current four-year IGA expires in July 2027; staff plan to bring the renewed agreement forward around spring 2027.
• Staff reported an average cost increase of about 16% over the last four years, partly driven by Council-requested service expansions: the revamped gold route (now averaging 500–600 riders per week compared to about 4 per week four years ago), bike racks, Sunday service, and a professional driver core with 88 vehicles available across all routes.
• Council members raised questions and suggestions about: marketing the Ore Cart to summer tourists (staff cited Google Maps/Transit app data sharing, Visit Golden outreach, and West Tracks/Jefferson County open-space connections); pursuing RTD partnership funding (noting Lone Tree Link received over $600,000 from RTD in the most recent year — Councillor Kaczinski suggested setting up a meeting with RTD representatives and the Ore Cart team); potential Jefferson County funding (West Metro micro-transit discussions are ongoing); and a possible new stop on 19th Street for Beverly Heights residents.
• In response to a question about on-demand service, staff noted a 2024 on-demand pilot with the West Corridor Collaborative (state-funded) in which 85% of trips stayed within the city and fed the North Golden gold route reconfiguration. The federally funded South Golden Transit on-demand pilot is expected to begin next year; the RFP may be released in October.
• Council members requested "not to exceed" contract language in the renegotiated IGA, distinguishing between Council-approved service additions (e.g., bike racks, weekend service) and unrequested program cost increases. Some members expressed concern about the shift away from student drivers; staff said professional staffing improved consistency and noted cost-containment efforts including driver scheduling, vehicle leasing versus purchasing, and in-house training.

Study Session – Overhead Power Line Undergrounding Policy

• Public Works Director Anne Beierle presented staff research and a recommendation to replace the city's outdated undergrounding policy for spending the 1% franchise fee funds (held in trust by Xcel Energy) on burying overhead lines.
• Key eligibility constraint: only Xcel-owned primary lines (pole-to-pole distribution lines, analogous to water mains) are eligible for 1% funds. Secondary service lines connecting poles to homes and businesses are not eligible; property owners may face $10,000–$15,000 (reported as high as $30,000–$50,000) in reconnection and meter-upgrade costs. Communications utilities sharing poles have no comparable funding mechanism.
• Wildfire risk reduction was the top priority for most council members. Councillor Vitry recommended using the city's Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) map, while Mayor Weinberg suggested first reviewing Xcel's own risk map because Xcel may already be prioritizing some areas for its own undergrounding.
• Economic development/aesthetics was ranked lowest; one council member stated they would oppose spending $4 million for aesthetic reasons. Another member suggested adding a cost-per-linear-foot metric to prioritize the least expensive lines first.
• Councillor Evans noted that burying a section of primary line will not prevent public safety power shutoffs (PSPS) if upstream feeders and lines remain overhead. Councillor Connett supported wildfire resiliency and raised considering covered (coated) primary lines or line hardening as alternatives during upcoming franchise agreement discussions.
• Staff cited two illustrative cost estimates: approximately $1.2 million near Parry Parkway (serving about 40 residents) and approximately $800,000 near Welch Ditch (serving about 17 residents); together these would consume roughly half of the current fund balance without covering secondary connections or communications lines.
• Staff will return with a draft policy and resolution reflecting Council direction.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Ian Nutubsky, a resident of 1045 North Ford Street, described an August 14, 2026 gas leak incident involving a parked vehicle and criticized the city's handling, including receiving a nuisance summons. He also reported an August 26 parking citation for expired registration on an Illinois-plated vehicle, saying he passed his emissions test and is registering the vehicle on Thursday. He alleged he was targeted by a neighbor's complaint.
• No members of the public spoke during the public hearing for Resolution 3352.

Council/Staff Comments and New Business

• Councilor Cameron raised complaints about the new Hawk signal (pedestrian beacon) near the high school on 19th Street. Staff said a technical fix is working somewhat better, but behavioral challenges with students remain; the high school start time change to 8:15 a.m. has compounded morning issues. Staff will meet with Colorado School of Mines, and Councilor Vitry will observe at the Hawk site next week.
• Councilor Kaczinski announced a resumed "meet and greet" on September 29 (location and time to be determined).
• Councilor Connett discussed bear activity in Stonebridge and citywide bear-awareness efforts; announced "Cookies with Councilors" on September 14, 7–8 p.m., at Scully's Cafe at Mines; and noted a new business proposal regarding the city's use of Flock (license plate reader) technology, scheduled for the October 13 study session.
• A council member noted an exploratory Clear Creek Forest Improvement District meeting next week and Golden hosting the CML fall district meeting at Fossil Trace next Wednesday.
• Staff updates included: trash provider transition from Republic to 5280 with minimal issues (one missed pickup); ambulance provider transition to Intermountain Health completed; exploration of bear-resistant carts with 5280 (prioritizing residents without garages); new Jefferson County manager Laura Aldrit planning a visit to Golden; fall budget meetings underway; new part-time staff member Sarah Ott; and a successful employee picnic.

Subcommittee Update – Third-Party Investigation

• The subcommittee reported that nine attorneys were identified through the Colorado Municipal League (CML) and Investigations Law Group (ILG); four firms were interviewed and ranked on cost, availability, cultural competency, and subject-matter expertise. Corey Hoffman of Hoffman, Parker, Wilson & Carberry PC was prioritized as outside counsel.
• All interviewed attorneys recommended that the ILG investigative contract be held through outside legal counsel to maximize flexibility regarding investigation results. A draft contract is in place, with a call with ILG scheduled for Thursday.
• The subcommittee recommended a special council meeting on September 15, 2026, to endorse the outside counsel contract; a potential executive session on the investigation scope may occur the same evening or on September 22, at outside counsel's recommendation. Council members confirmed availability for September 15; notice will be posted after Thursday's determination.

Staff Update – Third Quarter Strategic Plan

• Management Analyst Claire Nomak reported that the comprehensive plan and community engagement initiative are complete, and most major initiatives are on target.
• Highlights: Highway 93 North alternatives design (goal of reaching 30% design, likely extended); affordable housing funding with the Prop 123 commitment met for the year; regional homelessness coordination with 18 people onboarded into the Volunteer of America Navigation Center in Lakewood; federal policy monitoring including comments submitted on OMB grant program changes; and community engagement guide trainings.
• Heart of Golden: Police/Municipal Building construction is on budget and on schedule (completion anticipated late spring 2027); East Amenity Zone design is progressing; Lyons Park Playground is seeking GoCo and Colorado Gives grant funding with a bid targeted for Q4 2026; Clear Creek South Trail is moving into CIP evaluation.
• Wildfire resilience: urban tree canopy study underway (Davy Resource Group, due Q4); 105 sustainability rebate applications with more than $150,000 in rebates distributed; an additional residential preparedness meeting is scheduled for September 28; Beverly Heights egress route construction proposed for 2027 pending CDOT and Mines approvals; evacuation control plans reviewed for Beverly Heights, Mountain Ridge, Stonebridge, and Heritage Dells; Community Risk Assessment completion moved to Q1 2027 pending state review; Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) phase two underway with completion projected around mid-2027; goat grazing fuel mitigation completed in Heritage Dells (August–September 2026).
• Council questions clarified that the municipal building schedule is unchanged since Q2, the tree canopy study covers the entire urban canopy, and the public rollout of evacuation routes is tied to the standards-of-cover review process.

Consent Calendar

• Council adopted, by one motion, items 7a–7d: Minutes of August 25, 2026; Resolution 3342 (construction contract with A-Fast Patch Inc. for repaving and patching alley segments 5707 and 5708); Resolution 3346 (Construction Manager/General Contractor contract with Concrete Express Inc. for the Lena Gulch Channel Improvements Project – Reach 1); and Resolution 3353 (Intergovernmental Agreement establishing the Clear Creek Trail Collaborative). Councilor Cameron applauded finding a solution for the long-troubled alley between 14th and 15th streets.
• Item 7e (Resolution 3354) was pulled from consent by Councilor Kaczinski for separate discussion and vote.

Proclamations

• Council approved four proclamations: National Drive Electric Month (September 11–October 12, 2026); National Co-Responder and Crisis Responder Week (September 13–19, recognizing Drea Jones and Angela Gosalves); National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15–October 15, 2026); and Constitution Week (September 17–23, accepted by the Mount Lookout Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, which will ring bells at the Washington Avenue Welcome Center at 2 p.m. on September 17).

Resolution 3354 – Private Activity Bond Assignment to Foothills Regional Housing

• Affordable Housing Policy Coordinator Emily Arthur explained that Golden receives an annual allocation of private activity bonds (PABs) and must assign, relinquish, or carry them over by September 15. Golden has received PABs since 2023 and assigned them to Foothills Regional Housing in 2024 and 2025.
• The resolution assigns the 2026 allocation to Foothills, with a non-binding "soft ask" that they consider using the funds for an eligible upcoming Golden project (Golden Range, a 4% low-income housing tax credit multifamily rental). The City Attorney confirmed the assignment is not conditional or binding to any particular project. One council member asked staff to verify Golden Range's eligibility within a Qualified Census Tract.
• Council members praised the regional partnership, noting the assignment costs the city nothing and supports affordable housing across Jefferson County. The resolution passed unanimously by voice vote.

Public Hearing – Resolution 3352: Canyon View Business Park Filing 2 Replat C

• Planner Grace Fleming presented the final plat for the property at 1220 Brickyard Road (south of Pine Ridge Road, west side of Brickyard Road), originally platted June 26, 2014. Two of the three proposed lots are already built out; lot three's 2016 site plan has expired. Staff recommended approval, confirming compliance with the PUD, appropriate lot configurations, access, drainage, easements, and geotechnical constraints, and authorization to record the plat and companion drainage and maintenance agreement.
• No public comments were made. Councilor Cameron confirmed that open space requirements were reviewed. Resolution 3352 passed unanimously by voice vote.

Key Outcomes

• Study Session: Council directed staff to renegotiate the Ore Cart IGA (due around spring 2027) with cost-containment language including "not to exceed" provisions, and to pursue RTD partnership funding and a possible 19th Street stop.
• Study Session: Council directed staff to develop a new undergrounding policy prioritizing wildfire risk reduction (using the CWPP and Xcel risk maps) and 1% fund eligibility, with economic development/aesthetics as a low priority.
• A special council meeting was scheduled for September 15, 2026, to consider the outside-counsel contract for the third-party investigation; executive session timing to be determined.
• Consent items 7a–7d were adopted; Resolution 3354 was adopted unanimously; Resolution 3352 was adopted unanimously after a public hearing.

Note: Meeting minutes for this session were not available in the source packet. The raw transcript contained some garbled passages and name spellings; names were reconciled against the agenda where identifiable.