Greeley City Council Regular Meeting – December 16, 2025

The Greeley City Council met at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, in City Council Chambers at 1001 11th Avenue, Greeley, CO, with hybrid participation via Zoom. All seven members were present: Mayor Dale Hall, Councilmembers Tommy Butler, Deb DeBoutez, Johnny Olson, Brian Rudy, Ryan Roth, and Mayor Pro Tem Melissa McDonald. The meeting was adjourned at 8:19 p.m. The main actions were denial of a non-owner historic designation for City Hall, approval of an affordable-housing fast-track code amendment, reauthorization of nine boards and commissions, and appointments to city boards.

Consent Calendar

• The agenda was approved with no changes.
• Councilmember Butler presented the "What's Great About Greeley" report at 6:03 p.m.
• Reports: Mayor Pro Tem McDonald reported on Wreaths Across America and the Rodarte Community Christmas Party and announced the Dec. 17 menorah lighting; Councilmember Rudy announced a UNC wrestling dual on Dec. 19 with a silent auction for the Northern Colorado Wrestling Club; Councilmember DeBoutez congratulated City Attorney Stacey Aurzada on being named Outstanding City Attorney of the Year; Mayor Hall reported on Wreaths Across America at Linn Grove and announced public members on the City Manager Selection Committee. The minutes identify those members as Jerrod Carlson and Jamie Henneck; the transcript rendering is unclear and may say "Deirdre Pilch and Jamie."
• Consent agenda items 9–15 were approved 7-0 at 6:19 p.m.: approval of the Nov. 18 and Dec. 2, 2025 council meeting proceedings; a professional services contract with DHM Design for the Ferguson Property Community Park Project; two intergovernmental agreements regarding Water Supply and Storage Company system modifications and municipal stockholder participation; and appointments of Jerry Manzer, Keith Coleman, and J. William Sierra as Assistant Municipal Judges and Assistant Liquor Licensing Hearing Officers.
• No consent items were pulled.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Citizen input: Steve Teets spoke in opposition to the city's camping ban. Antonio Pacitto also spoke about homelessness and the camping ban, asking whether council would consider reversing it. Jeremy Bland spoke against adding additional questions to the Feb. 24, 2026 special election ballot, arguing the petition underlying the election was directed only at zoning ordinance 30-2025; he referenced signature shortfalls, duplicate signatures, and a prior petition effort related to financing ordinance 15-2025.
• Historic designation public hearing: The minutes list 20 speakers during the public hearing, which opened at 6:52 p.m. and closed at 7:51 p.m.; the transcript also includes a separate supporter, Kathleen Johnson, not separately listed in the minutes. Opponents included Weld County Commissioner Jason Maxey, Commissioner Kevin Ross, District 6 Assistant Superintendent Kent Henson, Greeley Area Chamber of Commerce President/CEO Jamie Henning, Downtown Development Authority Executive Director Bianca Fisher, Weld County facilities director Patrick O'Neill, downtown property owners Drew Notestine and James Emmett, and other residents/business owners. They argued that designation would jeopardize the Civic Campus project and partnerships, that the building lacked compelling community-wide significance, and that renovation was not financially feasible. Commissioner Ross said the county had chosen downtown over O Street by a slim margin of $8 million on a nearly $480 million project and might move its plans to O Street if designation occurred. District 6 cited $43 million in already-issued certificates of participation. Supporters included Dan Podell, Marshall Clough, Therese Gilbert, Mary Metzger, Jude Nordstrom, Ron Thompson, Kathleen Johnson, Jeff Johnson, Annette Jaehn, and other residents. They argued the building is an iconic mid-century modern landmark, that Greeley has lost too many historic buildings, and that demolition for parking is shortsighted. The applicant, Historic Greeley Inc., cited a High Plains Library District/State Historical Fund feasibility study showing a sound structure with redevelopment potential; Fisher countered that the library district found the building structurally unsound and too costly to renovate.

Discussion Items

• Historic designation of 1000 10th Street (City Hall): Community Development Interim Director Don Threewitt presented staff findings. The non-owner nomination required a showing of "compelling historic importance to the entire community." The Historic Preservation Commission had voted 5-0 on Dec. 1, 2025 to recommend designation. Lindy Thompson, representing applicant Historic Greeley Inc., highlighted the building's mid-century modern architecture, its connection to Norman Dean, and its iconic role in downtown Greeley. Deputy City Manager Kelli Johnson, representing the owner, argued the building did not meet the high non-owner bar, was altered over time, and that designation would threaten the Civic Campus project. Interim Public Works Director Will Jones said the 2016 facility report understated conditions and that renovation costs were far higher, estimating $24–33 million; a new city hall was described as roughly $80 million in hard construction costs, with the current 29,000 sq ft building compared to a planned 104,000 sq ft facility. Council discussion was split: Butler and DeBoutez favored preservation and said they wanted to explore keeping the building alongside Civic Campus; the other five members said the building did not meet the stricter non-owner criteria and that designation would put the downtown project at risk. The motion to deny the historic designation passed 5-2 at 8:04 p.m., with Butler and DeBoutez voting nay. Council directed the City Attorney to prepare a resolution documenting the findings for the next meeting. The related ordinance to place the property on the Greeley Historic Register (item 18) was then tabled 7-0 at 8:05 p.m.
• Affordable housing fast-track review process: Interim Planning Manager Caleb Jackson presented a second-reading ordinance amending Title 24 of the Greeley Municipal Code. The amendment defines affordable housing as housing costing households no more than 30% of income, up to 60% of area median income for rentals and up to 100% for ownership. The fast-track process would apply to projects with at least 50% affordable units and requires a decision within 90 calendar days. Both the Planning Commission (4-0) and the Housing Advisory Board (7-0) recommended approval. The public hearing opened at 8:09 p.m. and closed at 8:11 p.m.; Steve Teets questioned what "affordable housing" truly means under current economic conditions. Councilmember Butler noted the city had been considering this before Proposition 123, and Jackson confirmed. The ordinance was approved 7-0 at 8:12 p.m.
• Reauthorization of boards and commissions: Deputy City Clerk Jennifer Middleton presented the second-reading ordinance reauthorizing the Citizen Budget Advisory Committee, Citizen Transportation Advisory Board, Commission on Disabilities, Downtown Development Authority, Golf Advisory Board, Historic Preservation Commission, Rodarte Community Center Advisory Board, Stormwater Board, and Youth Commission for three years. During the public hearing, Steve Teets recommended that Citizen Transportation Advisory Board members be required to have direct experience using public transit, biking, or walking. The ordinance was adopted 7-0 at 8:18 p.m.
• Appointments: City Clerk Heidi Leatherwood announced appointments: Citizen Budget Advisory Committee – Barry Eastman, John Scholl, and Nicole Rainer, each for three-year terms; Greeley Urban Renewal Authority – Nicole Eitman for a five-year term; Human Relations Commission – Ricardo Perez and Tiffany Simmons, each for three-year terms.

Key Outcomes

• Denied the non-owner historic designation nomination for 1000 10th Street by a 5-2 vote, with Councilmembers Butler and DeBoutez voting against denial.
• Tabled the second-reading ordinance designating 1000 10th Street on the Greeley Historic Register by a 7-0 vote.
• Approved the Title 24 affordable-housing fast-track code amendment by a 7-0 vote.
• Reauthorized nine boards and commissions for three years by a 7-0 vote.
• Approved the motion authorizing the City Attorney to prepare any required resolutions, agreements, and ordinances and authorizing the Mayor and City Clerk to sign them, by a 7-0 vote.
• No scheduling of additional meetings occurred; the meeting adjourned at 8:19 p.m.