Greeley City Council Work Session - February 10, 2026

The Greeley City Council held a work session on February 10, 2026, at 6:00 PM. Six members were present (Councilmember Olson was excused). The meeting focused on a contractor licensing proposal and a review of community data highlights ahead of the upcoming council retreat. No formal action was taken, but council reached consensus on a contractor licensing path and voted to enter executive session.

Reports from Mayor and Councilmembers

• Councilmember Butler highlighted the Downtown Development Authority's (DDA) fourth annual Freezing Days event, noting it supports downtown retailers during their slowest months.
• Councilmember Rudy announced that his first Ward 4 meeting, originally scheduled for Monday, February 16, would be rescheduled due to the Presidents' Day holiday.
• Councilmember Roth reported attending the DDA annual retreat and planning session, commending the DDA team, Bianca and her staff, city staff, and Chair Annie Feinstein for their work.

Contractor Licensing

• Presentation: Deputy Building Official Dusty Shepherd presented a contractor licensing proposal in response to Councilmember McDonald's Initiative 11 2025. The presentation covered current contractor numbers (3,162 active contractors, 3,926 permits in 2025), license types available through the International Code Council (ICC), and a comparison to surrounding northern Colorado jurisdictions.
• Options: Staff recommended Option 1—licensing all contractors (adding general, specialty, and roofing to existing mechanical, electrical, and plumbing licenses). Option 2 would license only roofers, and Option 3 would maintain the status quo.
• Council Discussion:
  • Councilmember Butler expressed general support, questioned the proposed two-year renewal cycle (preferring three years to reduce costs for small businesses and staff workload), and asked about penalties for unlicensed work. Staff clarified the primary enforcement mechanism is preventing unlicensed contractors from pulling permits.
  • Councilmember DeBoutez sought clarification on reciprocity; staff confirmed that ICC certifications from Fort Collins, Loveland, and Longmont would be accepted, creating a smooth application process.
  • Councilmember Roth asked why previous attempts (2003 and 2015) failed. Staff cited older contractors opposing the required exam, noting the current proposal is easier now that many contractors already hold ICC certifications through reciprocity with other jurisdictions.
  • Councilmember Rudy expressed support, emphasizing the importance of making it seamless and easy to do business in Greeley.
  • Mayor Pro Tem McDonald made a strong case for Option 1, sharing detailed personal anecdotes from her professional work in insurance to illustrate the harm caused by out-of-state and unlicensed contractors. She described them as "predators" who take advantage of residents, arguing the licensing protects local businesses and consumers.
• Outcome: Council reached consensus to proceed with Option 1 (licensing all contractors).

Community Data Highlights

• Presentation: Acting City Manager Brian McBroom presented a high-level review of community data from multiple sources (citywide survey, ballot measure polling, planning activities, Speak Up Greeley) to inform the upcoming council retreat.
• Key Themes: Overall 70% satisfaction with core city services; ongoing concerns about the impacts of growth on streets and congestion; high value placed on safety and cleanliness; cautiousness about taxes; a desire for clear priorities; and broad agreement on the city's major focus areas.
• Focus Area Details:
  • Business Growth: Economic development is valued most when it produces visible results and supports local employers and downtown.
  • Housing for All: Consistently a top concern; strong support for housing stabilization, emergency sheltering, and rental assistance.
  • Safe Community: Considered a non-negotiable strength; fire and police services consistently rated very high.
  • Infrastructure: Residents desire more investment; low satisfaction with the quality of some infrastructure.
• Council Questions:
  • Councilmember Butler asked why the data showed Greeley as "competitive but not exceptional" for business, relating it to his initiative for a mayor's task force on economic development. Staff committed to providing more details on that study.
  • Councilmember DeBoutez requested a trends analysis and asked how high public safety scores are gauged given few residents interact with those services directly. Staff confirmed the survey appendix contains trend data and pointed to community outreach as a factor.
  • Councilmember Roth asked about the recency of the housing survey data and speculated that perceptions of encampments may have shifted since the camping ban and the opening of the Starrise year-round shelter.
  • Mayor Pro Tem McDonald argued that positive housing perception improvements are likely tied to the opening of the Starrise year-round shelter more than the camping ban itself.

Key Outcomes

• Council reached consensus to direct staff to proceed with licensing all contractors (Option 1), adding general, specialty, and roofing contractors to the city's existing licensing requirements.
• The council voted 6-0 to enter an Executive Session to receive legal advice and instruct negotiators regarding the West Greeley project. The work session recessed at 6:43 PM to hold the executive session.