The Golden City Council met on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, convening at 5:00 p.m., entering executive session, reconvening at 6:30 p.m., recessing from 7:46 to 7:51 p.m., and adjourning at 9:00 p.m. Councilor Kurzinski was absent; Mayor Weinberg declared a quorum with six members present. The meeting included an executive session on the fire department investigation, public comment, consent items, proclamations, the 2025 audit and revenue outlook, the North Clear Creek parking district resolution, and city manager recruitment direction.
One motion, adopted 6-0, approved:
Councilor Evans commended the affordable housing and homeless navigation work in the consent items. Councilor Cameron noted staff advised that no 2026 budget spending would be required for the Navigation Center IGA and that funding would come from the marijuana tax, with possible clarification on payment timing from the budget director.
Finance Director Joseph Allaire presented the 2025 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report. He attributed the delayed report to finance department staffing gaps, said the team is being rebuilt, and expressed confidence that future reports will meet the June 30 deadline. Jim Henkle of Henkle and Company CPAs reported clean unmodified audit opinions on the city's financial statements and single audit, no significant deficiencies or material weaknesses, and no audit adjustments. The single audit tested the federal highway planning and construction program, which is approximately two-thirds of federal award expenditures, and all required filings were made by applicable deadlines.
Council discussion included enterprise fund reserves, fire service demand, and utility connection statistics. Fire responses grew from about 1,500 to 3,500 over ten years, and water connections rose from about 5,300 to 5,500 while wastewater connections remained flat; the finance director agreed to follow up on the utility question. Councilor Cameron asked whether a slimmer report would suffice; Henkle and Allaire recommended keeping the full ACFR because it supports public trust and most of the work is in the audited financial statements.
Finance Director Joseph Allaire presented the city's revenue trends and outlook, emphasizing proactive revenue planning rather than an immediate revenue increase. He noted taxes are the largest general fund revenue source and that preliminary estimates show general property tax declining due to changes in assessment rates and property values. He explained that taxes generally require voter approval, while license and permit fees and charges for services give Council more direct control. Council discussed comparisons with neighboring municipalities, the cost of assisting other districts, utility funding needs, financing options, and water rate resilience. Councilor Powell requested metrics and peer comparisons in future presentations. Councilor Cameron asked about recovering fire response costs for out-of-area calls and about long-term water and sewer capital planning.
Allaire said the proposed budget is scheduled for presentation on October 13, with a follow-up discussion on November 4, CBAC review, and adoption in December. The minutes refer to the "2017 proposed budget" at this point; the transcript and context indicate that is an apparent typo for the upcoming budget.
Principal Planner Matt Wempe presented the proposed establishment of the North Clear Creek Parking District and changes to the Downtown Special Parking District. The district is roughly bounded by Washington Avenue, Ford Street, Clear Creek, and State Highway 58. Short-term staff recommendations presented for discussion included a loading zone on Water Street in front of Golden Mill, conversion of faded striped spaces at 615 Water Street into 30-minute loading zones, and an employee parking space while preserving the ADA space. The resolution includes two-hour parking limits with city permit registration in some blocks and paid parking with free two hours, then $2.50 per hour up to $10 per day and $50 per week, in other blocks. The downtown resident parking permit would expand into the district, allowing eligible residents to park without time limits in designated areas and in downtown garages.
Council discussed potential confusion between paid parking and two-hour-only zones, signage, enforcement, access to downtown garages, the cost of resident permits compared with $75 per month private parking at 615 Water Street, circulation, and future development. Councilor Cameron expressed concern about extending paid parking on Jackson Street and asked for expanded signage; Wempe said staff would conduct outreach and use clear signage. The resolution was adopted 6-0.
Mayor Weinberg led a discussion of the city manager recruitment process. HR Director Kristen Meier was available to answer questions. Council reviewed four options and discussed costs, search scope, applicant screening, Council and staff responsibilities, and employment contract negotiations. Several members expressed concern about having HR staff conduct the search and negotiate with a future supervisor, and about the appearance of bias. Councilor Cameron said local and state knowledge of Colorado and TABOR is critical and shifted to support outside assistance. Councilor Evans said an outside expert would increase public confidence. Councilor Knecht urged review of the qualifications to broaden a historically narrow applicant pool.
Council coalesced around an internal and statewide search using city recruiting platforms, with an outside employment expert to assist with screening, interviews, selection-related steps, and employment contract negotiations, with an approximate cost of $10,000-$12,000 and a discussed not-to-exceed figure of $12,000. Mayor Weinberg proposed working with Mayor Pro Tem Vitry and HR to develop the process and timeline and return to full Council for contract approval. The City Attorney said no formal action was needed that night.
All right. We are on air. It is five o'clock. We are going to convene our city council meeting for whatever today days. Uh September 22nd, 2026, and we'll start by standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. And to the Republic for which it stands. Next up is roll call. Council can make Council Cameron. Here. I'm sorry, I think. Here. Mayor Weinberg. Here. Mayor Proto? Here. Council Powell? Here. And Council Krasinski isn't very cowboy. Thank you. Um, next, I've received no changes to the agenda, so it is approved as has been presented. And up next, we'll have a motion uh regarding executive session. Madam Mayor, I move to enter into executive session session pursuant to CRS section 24-6-42 for N B and Golden Municipal Code Section 1.03050 parent two for a conference with special counsel to receive legal advice on specific legal issues regarding the nature and scope of the investigation to be conducted by the third party investigator regarding the March 2026 incident at the City of Golden Fair Department. And I further move to reconvene the regular business meeting at 6 30 p.m. Sir Second. Second. Thank you. All in favor, please say aye. Aye. Any opposed? All right. We will move to executive session and return at 6 30. All right. It is 6 30. We are back on the air. Let me uh make our announcement and then we will move forward with our meeting agenda. The time is now 6 30 p.m. and the executive session has been concluded. The participants in the executive session run Patty Evans, Lisa Vittree, Gerhard Fau, and Corey Hoffman and myself. If any person who participated in the executive session believes that any substantial discussion of any matter not included in the motion to go into the executive session occurred during the executive session, or that any improper action occurred during the executive session in violation of the open meetings law, I ask that you state your concerns now. Hearing none, we resume our uh regular business meeting. First on our agenda, um since we've concluded the executive session is our public comment period. It is the only public uh comment opportunity that we have for tonight's agenda. And so if anybody would like to make comments, now is your time. You're welcome up to the podium. Have three minutes to direct your comments to Council. Come on up to the podium. When you get to the podium, I ask that you state your name and your address or your neighborhood for the record. And then uh you have three minutes for whatever topic you'd like to share with council tonight. We don't normally start right away with public comment at 6 30.