Greeley City Council Regular Meeting - October 21, 2025

The Greeley City Council met in regular session on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. in City Council Chambers at 1001 11th Avenue, Greeley, Colorado, with hybrid participation available via Zoom. Mayor John Gates presided and all seven councilmembers were present. The council held public hearings on several second-reading ordinances, adopted the 2026 budget and the 2026 Classification and Salary Plan, voted to keep the October 28 work session on the calendar, made board and commission appointments, and unanimously authorized two executive sessions.

Recognitions and Reports

• Mayor Gates read a proclamation declaring December 13, 2025 as Wreaths Across America Day in Greeley. Representatives accepted the proclamation and noted the community need for 4,650 wreaths across local cemeteries.
• Councilmember Olson presented the What's Great About Greeley report, recognizing a Greeley Central High School teacher named 2026 Colorado Teacher of the Year, a Greeley Downtown Development Authority leader, Aims Community College for its Hispanic-Serving Institution recognition, and the University of Northern Colorado football team.
• Councilmembers reported on the Evans State of the City event, a new pocket forest near the Rodarte Center, Weld Project Connect, and a Greeley Fire retirement.
• Councilmember Butler requested discussion of independent cost estimates for the Catalyst project. City Manager Raymond Lee said the city was still awaiting its consultant's independent analysis and committed to providing information before October 31, 2025, subject to legal review. Councilmember Olson cautioned against releasing contractor numbers without the city's independent analysis.

Consent Calendar

• The council approved 7-0 the Consent Agenda items 9-10 and 12-14: minutes of the September 16, 2025 work meeting and September 23, 2025 work session; the 2026 Council Meeting and Work Session Schedule; ratification of Patty Bodwell to the High Plains Library District Board of Trustees for a four-year term; the 2025 Tax Levy and certification to the Board of County Commissioners; and the intergovernmental agreement with CDOT for the MERGE Project on US 34 Bypass.
• Item 11, a motion to cancel the October 28, 2025 Work Session, was pulled and considered separately.

Public Comments & Testimony

Citizen Input

• Peggy Sue Squires thanked councilmembers for attending Weld Project Connect and encouraged support for the Bears.
• Bill Gillard expressed strong support for Wreaths Across America.
• Steve Teets spoke about the homeless population, the camping ban, and his opposition to large projects such as Catalyst and Cascadia.
• Mary Metzger spoke about housing and economic development, criticized council members who did not attend a candidate forum, and discussed hospital closures.

Public Hearing Testimony

• West Greeley GID ordinance: Mary Metzger and Steve Teets spoke in opposition. Bill Gillard asked how the ordinance would interact with a circulating referendum petition. Roger Hollard, speaking on behalf of Stratus Companies, said his organization supported the GID formation.
• Lake Bluff Local Improvement District: No public speakers commented.
• West Greeley Basin sewer eminent domain ordinance: Bill Gillard, Steve Teets, and Mary Metzger spoke against the use of eminent domain.
• Professional services contract ordinance: No public speakers commented.
• 2025 final appropriation: Bill Gillard asked what high performance government means.
• 2026 Budget: Peggy Sue Squires advocated for continuing the homeless shelter and suggested a second methadone clinic. Bill Gillard expressed concern about the $21 million budget gap and urged focus on needs. Steve Teets referenced the Colorado Springs Mission model with an 85% success rate, opposed the 34 regional MERGE project, and suggested adding more police officers and firefighters. Mary Metzger criticized the council's handling of the Catalyst and Cascadia projects.
• 2026 Classification and Salary Plan: Steve Teets stated employees should not receive raises under current economic conditions.

Discussion Items

• October 28 Work Session Cancellation: Councilmember Butler pulled item 11, saying the work session should remain scheduled to address items such as the boards and commissions triennial review, comprehensive financial policies, affordable housing development code amendments, and tree canopy. Councilmember Payton supported keeping the meeting because business remained before the new council was seated on November 18. The council voted 6-1 to deny the cancellation, with Mayor Gates voting nay.
• West Greeley General Improvement District Guardrails Ordinance: Community Development Director Brian McBroom presented the ordinance requiring future properties to join one of the two West Greeley GIDs, establishing inclusion triggers, ensuring access to the Water Valley Company coordination agreement, requiring transparency through web pages and annual reports, and mandating disclosures to homebuyers. Councilmembers discussed whether property owners in Windsor or Johnstown could join, the possibility of additional metro district mills and public improvement fees on top of the GID mill levy, and the impact on future shoppers. The ordinance was adopted 5-2, with Councilmembers Butler and DeBoutez voting nay.
• Lake Bluff Non-Potable Irrigation Local Improvement District No. 9510101: Water and Sewer Director Sean Chambers explained that the district is north of 10th Street and west of 95th Avenue, extending to the Poudre River. The developer constructed the pump station and will use about 25% of its capacity. The remaining 75% of capacity will serve 14 other properties totaling 812 acres. The approximate oversizing cost is $1.8 million, equaling about $2,214.75 per acre or about $443 per single-family home at five units per acre. The ordinance was adopted 7-0.
• West Greeley Basin Sewer System Eminent Domain: Chief Engineer Adam Prior described the proposed interceptor, lift station, and force main needed for future West Greeley development. He outlined the acquisition process, including appraisals, offers, negotiations, and condemnation only if necessary. Estimated easement acquisition costs were about $2.4 million, with total project costs estimated at $30-40 million. Councilmember Butler objected to authorizing eminent domain before project funding was secured. Staff responded that the infrastructure was essential regardless of which developments proceed and that early easement acquisition was advantageous. The minutes state that over the past five years, 101 parcels were acquired across four projects with only four resulting in condemnation; the transcript contains a differing figure of 85 parcels and three condemnations. The ordinance was adopted 6-1, with Councilmember Butler voting nay.
• Professional Services and Consulting Contract Oversight: Chief Financial Officer Allena Portis presented an ordinance requiring city council approval for professional services or consulting contracts exceeding $199,999.99. The ordinance maintains the city manager's authority for other contracts and adds a financial officer review for fund availability for contracts of $200,000 or more. The ordinance was adopted 7-0.
• 2025 Final Appropriation: Budget Director Nathan Mosley presented the third and final appropriation for fiscal year 2025, totaling $3,464,654. The majority used operating fund balance, about one-third related to grants, and one item related to an intergovernmental agreement with Weld County for the Poudre River Trail. The ordinance was adopted 7-0.
• 2026 Budget: Mr. Mosley presented the 2026 budget, which addressed an approximately $21 million gap using unspent 2024 carryover, about $3 million in departmental budget realignments, and a $7 million transfer from the capital fund. The budget supports 1,260 FTEs, including 17 net new positions and one-time funding to extend 54 term-limited positions into 2026. It includes the new regional 34 bus route, psychological health services for first responders, continuation of the Clean, Safe and Beautiful initiative, and continuation of homeless shelter operations. Discussion focused on adding three additional firefighters, the Drone-As-First-Responder program, the low-barrier homeless shelter operated by United Way, and funding for Poudre River restoration and Lincoln Park. Several councilmembers objected to tying $500,000 in Poudre River funding to the broader Poudre River Restoration Initiative and wanted it narrowed to downtown flood mitigation. Ernest Cienfuegos-Baca of United Way of Weld County explained that the low-barrier shelter is behavior-based, does not turn away intoxicated individuals, and refers clients to existing dry shelter programs and navigation services. The budget was adopted as presented on a 5-2 vote, with Councilmembers Olson and McDonald voting nay.
• 2026 Classification and Salary Plan: Human Resources Director Martha Lanaghen presented a plan replacing 52 narrow pay bands with a streamlined structure. Job titles, family names, and exemption statuses remain the same. More than 400 employees were within 5% of their current pay band maximum. The financial impact is minimal: about $20,000 for a few employees moving to new minimums, about $3,000 for Colorado minimum wage compliance, and an increase in on-call pay from $1.50 to $2.50 per hour. Councilmember Butler raised concerns about the creation of director positions without council appropriation, but the plan was adopted 7-0.
• Boards and Commissions Appointments: City Clerk Heidi Leatherwood presented appointments to the Greeley Art Commission, Historic Preservation Commission, Housing Authority, Housing for All Advisory Board, Union Colony Civic Center Advisory Board, and Youth Commission. The minutes do not record a separate roll-call vote on the appointments.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda items 9-10 and 12-14 approved 7-0.
• Motion to cancel the October 28, 2025 Work Session was denied 6-1; the work session remains scheduled.
• West Greeley GID inclusion area ordinance adopted 5-2.
• Lake Bluff Non-Potable Irrigation Local Improvement District ordinance adopted 7-0.
• West Greeley Basin sewer system eminent domain ordinance adopted 6-1.
• Professional services and consulting contract approval ordinance adopted 7-0.
• 2025 final appropriation ordinance adopted 7-0.
• 2026 Budget ordinance adopted 5-2.
• 2026 Classification and Salary Plan ordinance adopted 7-0.
• Council voted 7-0 to enter executive session for legal advice regarding a proposed referendum petition and 7-0 to enter executive session for legal advice regarding personnel matters.
• Council voted 7-0 to authorize the City Attorney to prepare and sign all resolutions, agreements, and ordinances reflecting council action.
• The public meeting adjourned at 9:04 p.m.; the executive sessions were held afterward and concluded at 9:42 p.m. and 10:41 p.m. according to the minutes.