Greeley City Council Regular Meeting – March 3, 2026

The Greeley City Council met in regular session on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. in City Council Chambers, 1001 11th Avenue, Greeley, CO, with virtual participation via Zoom. All seven councilmembers were present: Mayor Dale Hall, Mayor Pro Tem Melissa McDonald, Councilmembers Tommy Butler (Ward I), Deb DeBoutez (Ward II), Johnny Olson (Ward III), Brian Rudy (Ward IV), and Ryan Roth (At-Large). The meeting included proclamations, an extended citizen input period dominated by the recent special election and the Cascadia/Catalyst project, a consent agenda, public hearings on a graywater ordinance and salary ordinances for the City Attorney and Presiding Municipal Judge, and two executive session motions. The council entered executive session at 8:07 p.m.

Recognitions and Reports

• Mayor Hall proclaimed March 2026 as Women’s History Month.
• Mayor Hall proclaimed March 2026 as Brain Injury Awareness Month. Carrie Olenek, executive director of Adeo Colorado, accepted the proclamation and spoke about the lifelong impact of brain injuries and Adeo’s renewed focus on brain injury survivors.
• Mayor Pro Tem McDonald presented the ‘What’s Great About Greeley’ report, honoring Greeley Central’s Daniel Romero and Dayspring Christian Academy’s Joseph Noche for state wrestling championships, a $3.5 million federal grant for Phase Two of the Bravo and Echo Taxiway Complex at Greeley-Weld County Airport, Aims Community College’s designation as the first community college authorized to offer both tower and en route air traffic control training, and University of Northern Colorado honors including a faculty award and a ‘most promising places to work’ listing.

Consent Calendar

The council approved items 9 through 13 by a single 7-0 vote:

• Approved the February 3, 2026 City Council meeting minutes and February 10, 2026 work session minutes.
• Adopted a resolution finding substantial compliance with state annexation laws for the West Lowell Annexation (ANX2024-0005), a 53.62-acre property located generally east of North 59th Avenue, south of the Cache La Poudre River, and west of North 35th Avenue.
• Authorized a professional services contract with TRC Environmental Corporation for design of multiple street intersection upgrades.
• Authorized a professional services contract with Ralph L. Wadsworth Construction Company, LLC for program management services for downtown stormwater capital improvement projects.
• Introduced on first reading an ordinance adding Chapter 17 to Title 22 of the Greeley Municipal Code adopting the Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code, with the public hearing and second reading scheduled for March 17, 2026.

No items were pulled from the consent agenda.

Public Comments & Testimony

Citizen input was overwhelmingly focused on the recent special election, Ballot Issue 1A, and the Cascadia/Catalyst project. Speakers differed sharply on the outcome and the path forward.

• Tom Dunkel, a speaker associated with Greeley Forward, said his campaign was transparent and blamed opposition misinformation, personal attacks, and undisclosed funding for the loss. He said estimates range from $90 million to $100 million already spent, that the Cascadia certificate-of-participation repayment structure is at risk, and that Greeley faces a projected $20-plus million shortfall in 2026. He called on Councilmember Tommy Butler to resign, accusing him of trying to sabotage the project.
• Evan Peterson supported the 54% vote for 1A, demanded return of unused tax money and full financial disclosure, criticized the Catalyst project and developer Martin Lind, and warned that voters reserved the power to recall the mayor and councilmembers.
• Kathy Hush, a 50-year Greeley resident, questioned who is ‘minding the store’ on economic development, asked why Loveland obtained a Costco, cited a Greeley Tribune survey in which 52% wanted more restaurants/businesses and 67% thought citizens should have voted on Cascadia, and opposed a potential AI project at the old Kodak property.
• An unidentified resident asked about Hensel Phelps, due diligence, and bond market reaction, saying a Colorado Bond Shares investor told him they would never invest in the project; he criticized 100% city financing with nothing from the developer.
• Steve Teets read a poem about the hardships of homelessness.
• Sandy Cummings thanked Councilmembers DeBoutez and Butler for listening, but said trust in the other five councilmembers was broken by endorsing the no vote, collaborating with Greeley Forward, changing yard sign rules, ignoring feasibility studies, failing to release a study promised in January, and repeated executive sessions. She urged taking an off-ramp and designing a project with both yes and no voters.
• Connie Garcia proposed a smaller arena, hotel, and water park and suggested creating a citizen committee to work with council and the developer on a revised Catalyst project.
• Bill Gillard criticized council leadership and City Manager Raymond Lee, said the ballot should not have targeted private property, and argued a recall of the then-council would have been more appropriate; he still believed the project could benefit Greeley.
• Mary Metzger said council had not listened to residents on the project and the camping ban, called for transparency, and said citizens are the council’s bosses.
• Martha Kyler said the election showed residents want to be heard before decisions, and recommended using local boards and commissions, such as the Commission on Disabilities, early in planning for the downtown civic campus to avoid costly accessibility retrofits.
• Priscilla Shaner questioned Councilmember Olson’s surprise at the outcome, asked whether the project’s off-ramps were real or talking points, and argued the city could have stopped at about $10 million rather than roughly $100 million.
• Rhonda Solis, associated with Greeley Demands Better, celebrated 1A’s passage, cited the city’s consultant Hotel and Leisure Advisors concluding the project did not appear financially feasible and a Newmark analysis finding understated costs, inadequate debt service coverage, and overly aggressive revenue projections. She urged council to consider whether to continue with the developer at all.
• Jen Remers described nine years of sewer, water, and safety problems in her mobile home park and asked the city to create a mobile home park committee.
• Teresa Gilbert said the community is in it together, suggested the project did not match Greeley’s demographics, and said it was not helpful to blame Martin Lind.
• Tiffany Simmons outlined options for the COP debt and urged council to explore allowing marijuana sales in Greeley, citing Colorado’s more than $3 billion in marijuana tax revenue since legalization, about $255 million in 2024, and estimating Greeley could generate $1 million to $3 million annually.
• Shohan Lindig recommended ‘radical transparency’ and a citizen committee to review data and communicate decisions.
• An unnamed resident thanked Butler and DeBoutez, disagreed with Dunkel’s call for Butler’s resignation, and urged the council to slow down and work with residents.
• Jennifer Andrews thanked election staff, criticized Greeley Forward’s social media interactions, raised concern about representation if Butler’s seat is replaced, and supported a community benefits agreement.
• Antonio said petitions with many signatures should have stopped the project earlier, thanked DeBoutez for attending a community benefits agreement meeting, and supported a blanket community benefits agreement for future projects.
• Kathy Ents accused the council of composing a confusing ballot question, said the five councilmembers were not victims, and demanded transparency and honest representation.
• Virtual speaker Brandon Warwick urged council to honor the voters, immediately cease discretionary Cascadia/Catalyst spending, oppose the lawsuit attempting to overturn the election, and include residents in next steps.
• Virtual speaker Jennifer Montez, representing the Greeley-Weld Immigrant Partnership Team, opposed Cascadia and asked about safety and ‘know your rights’ resources for the immigrant community, referencing the Hudson/Bighorn facility and the JBS Swift strike.
• Virtual speaker David Sheehy said Greeley’s population is 115,000 with 63,000 active registered voters and only one-third voted; he urged council to consider the trust of non-voters and argued construction workers generate sales tax.

Public testimony on individual ordinances:

• On the graywater ordinance, one resident suggested future rainwater/graywater recapture in new construction but said the cost would not justify doing it now.
• On the City Attorney salary ordinance, Bill Gillard and Steve Teets opposed the raise, citing Greeley’s financial shortfall and broader government debt.
• On the Municipal Judge salary ordinance, Bill Gillard again opposed the raise, saying public employees should not receive raises while the city is in debt.

Council Reports and Initiatives

• Councilmember DeBoutez reported on a February 19 homeless vigil honoring 33 people who died while homeless, summarized five themes from a community benefits agreement meeting (local hiring and training, citizen oversight, affordable housing, good neighbor agreements, and adequate infrastructure), and announced office hours at Margie’s.
• Councilmember Olson said he still believed the Catalyst project could be transformational, but acknowledged ‘horrendous’ communication and lack of transparency. He proposed a structured three-to-six-month pause and recalibration for Catalyst and the downtown civic campus, with plain-English financial explanations, alternative zoning options, and a balanced citizens’ commission to review information and present a public recommendation.
• Councilmember Butler thanked Heidi Leatherwood and election staff and said special election turnout exceeded any municipal election turnout in Greeley’s history.
• Mayor Pro Tem McDonald thanked the youth commission, said the council and staff were exhausted, acknowledged early transparency failures, cited a leadership change, and said previous city leadership had gatekept information and made false statements about county road funding.

Discussion Items

• Graywater ordinance: Deputy Director of Water Resources Leah Hubbard explained that graywater is reused household water from showers, sinks, and similar sources; that House Bill 24-1362 authorized graywater use statewide as of January 1, 2026 unless prohibited locally; and that graywater systems pose public health risks, require permitting and inspection programs, and have poor return on investment. She noted Fort Collins had issued one permit and that typical savings of $69 to $138 per year would take 33 to 65 years to recover a $4,500 retrofit cost. The Water and Sewer Board recommended prohibition on January 21. The council approved the ordinance 7-0.
• City Attorney salary: Human Resources Director Martha Lannigan presented a 4% merit increase for City Attorney Stacey Arzeta, from $263,002.62 to $273,547.07 retroactive to February 12, 2026, plus continuation of the city’s 12% 401(k) contribution. Councilmembers praised Arzeta’s performance, and the ordinance passed 7-0.
• Municipal Judge salary: The council approved a 3% increase for Presiding Municipal Judge Mark Gonzalez, from $215,173 to $221,628 effective February 12, 2026, with continued 5% matching to his 457 plan and a 6% city contribution to his 401(k). The ordinance passed 7-0.

Executive Sessions and Final Actions

• The council voted 7-0 to enter executive session to discuss the potential purchase/acquisition of real property, receive negotiation instructions, and receive legal advice if necessary.
• The council voted 7-0 to enter a second executive session to receive legal advice and instruct negotiators regarding the West Greeley project and a lawsuit filed against the city related to that project.
• Before the executive sessions, the council voted 7-0 by voice vote to authorize the City Attorney to prepare required resolutions, agreements, and ordinances and to authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to sign them.

Key Outcomes

• Consent agenda approved 7-0.
• Graywater collection prohibition ordinance adopted 7-0.
• City Attorney salary increase ordinance adopted 7-0.
• Presiding Municipal Judge salary increase ordinance adopted 7-0.
• Both executive session motions approved 7-0.
• City Attorney document-preparation motion approved by voice vote.
• The next scheduled public hearing is March 17, 2026, for the Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code ordinance.
• The meeting moved into executive session at 8:07 p.m.; after the executive sessions, the meeting was scheduled to adjourn.