Greeley City Council Regular Meeting - March 17, 2026

The Greeley City Council met on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, at 6:00 PM in City Council Chambers at City Center South, 1001 11th Avenue, Greeley, CO, with hybrid participation via Zoom. The meeting included proclamations, a University of Northern Colorado (UNC) spring update, citizen input, a consent agenda with multiple annexation resolutions, a discussion on creating a citizen oversight committee for the West Greeley Catalyst Project, adoption of the Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code, appointments to boards and commissions, and a farewell to outgoing Councilmember Tommy Butler.

Consent Calendar

• Items 10–26 approved unanimously (7-0). These included approval of the February 17, 2026 meeting minutes (Item 10), a resolution establishing City Hall at 1200 11th Avenue (Item 11), a professional services agreement for the 7th & 12th Street Bores (Item 12), and resolutions finding substantial compliance with state annexation laws for Great Western Industrial Park (GWIP) Annexations No. 1–14 (Items 13–26).
• Item 27 (GWIP Annexation No. 15, 322.427 acres) was pulled for an amendment. The council voted 7-0 to amend the first whereas clause to include joint applicant GWIP LLC. The amended resolution was then adopted 7-0.
• Item 28 (ordinance amending city hall references) was removed from the agenda at staff's request, to be brought back later.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Rachel Burton (Greeley) expressed skepticism about the oversight committee, saying she hoped it would have real input and that the council would treat people better. She recounted a past interaction with Mayor Hall.
• Kathy Hush (Greeley) raised questions about the proposed oversight committee: why have a council if a commission is formed, who chooses members, what authority and duration it will have, and whether only Greeley voters can serve. She noted that citizens are angry and that the West Greeley Catalyst project has been controversial.
• Steve Teets (Greeley) spoke about homeless individuals, including a couple where the wife was asked to leave the hospital, and complained about loud brakes on city buses. He said the bus supervisor was rude and urged fixes.
• Scott Balstad (Windsor, Director of Planning) argued that the GWIP annexations conflict with state annexation laws because the area is 99% surrounded by Windsor, not contiguous to Greeley, and would create an island requiring Greeley police to drive through Windsor to respond. He said Windsor had previously submitted comments.
• Mary Metzger (Greeley) thanked the community for their hard work and urged council to listen to citizens. She said the community has pushed hard to be heard and now is the time for a reset.
• Peggy Sue Squires (Greeley) said council needs to be more cohesive and listen. She referenced a recent election and noted that most people speaking against the project are from Greeley, while supporters are from out of town.
• Stacey Zwinnica (Greeley, Latino Coalition of Weld County) stressed the need for Latino representation on any new committee, noting Latinos make up 40% of the city but often feel ignored. She offered the coalition's help and said the Cascadia project can succeed if the community comes together.
• Pam Sminker (Greeley) commended Councilmember Butler, asked for road repairs (especially 10th Street), urged a halt to new housing due to water and affordability concerns, and called for infrastructure improvements before development. She also noted hazardous broken bricks downtown.
• Kathy Ents (Greeley) praised Councilmember Butler for his dedication and honesty. She expressed hope that council would listen to the election results and do what is best for the city, not just for developers.
• Kimber Watson (Greeley) urged that any oversight committee be diverse, include ADA compliance expertise, and exclude people with large financial interests. She questioned why TABOR does not require a public vote on the Catalyst project and said the project would bring criminal elements and strain infrastructure.
• Jennifer Andreas (Greeley) focused on trust and optics. She asked that the appointment to replace Councilmember Butler reflect Ward 1's voice. She argued that if the same body being overseen selects oversight committee members, it creates a perception problem; the community should have a meaningful role in selection. She also advocated for a community benefit agreement to ensure shared expectations.
• Karen Jarman (Greeley, Ward 4) thanked Councilmember Butler for his service and responsiveness, and hoped his replacement would similarly represent Ward 1.
• Johan Lindig (Greeley) called for radical transparency in the oversight committee, including sharing all information upfront, establishing clear decision-making processes, and publishing summaries. He supported the idea of a mediator.
• Miranda Silis (Greeley, Ward 4) expressed concern that the project initially lacked community input and that the city was not neutral during the election, as it sided with the developer. She urged council to be neutral and open.
• David Sheehy (Greeley) opposed the oversight committee, arguing that the low voter turnout (one-third of active voters) indicates most citizens trust the council to decide. He said the committee is an overreach and that younger residents like himself support the project for the future.

Discussion Items

UNC Spring Update

• UNC President Andy Feinstein provided an update. Key points:
  • Colorado faces an $850 million state budget shortfall affecting higher education.
  • Greeley Day at the Capitol is March 18, 2026.
  • The College of Osteopathic Medicine building is on budget and on time; the first cohort of 81 students will begin July 24, 2026, with over 1,200 applications received.
  • Fall retention rates set a record at 78%, Hispanic student population is over 28%, and four-year graduation rate is 50% (both records).
  • Student athletes achieved a record 3.4 GPA.
  • President Feinstein announced he will step down on August 1, 2026, but will remain with the UNC Foundation for a transition year.
• Councilmembers thanked President Feinstein for his service and partnership.

West Greeley Catalyst Project – Citizen Oversight Committee

• Staff proposed a 9-member committee: one council ex-officio, city staff liaison, and community members balanced by ward and opinion. Duties include reviewing financial, zoning, and planning information; providing recommendations; assisting community communications; and recommending improvements. Meetings would be 2–3 hours, in person, over 6–9 months, with an outside mediator. Applications would open March 20 and close April 3, with interviews and formal recommendation on April 7.
• Councilmember Olson emphasized in-person meetings, a rigorous schedule (possibly 3–6 hours per week), weekly public reports, a non-voting Tribune reporter seat, and bi-weekly town halls.
• Councilmember Butler supported a large applicant pool for diversity and wanted independent voices from both yes and no campaigns. He suggested public meetings with limited public comment.
• Mayor Pro Tem McDonald reported a meeting with citizen advocates and suggested that the opposition group provide five names from which council would select three to ensure the committee is not perceived as cherry-picked.
• Council agreed to further discuss details at a work session on March 24, 2026.

Public Hearing – Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code

• Assistant Fire Chief Jonathan Williams presented Senate Bill 23-166 and the new statewide code, which must be adopted by April 1, 2026. The code applies to new construction and significant alterations (over 500 sq ft or 25% of structure) in designated Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) areas. Greeley's map shows low (yellow) and moderate (orange) intensity zones, with no high-risk (red) areas. Staff intends to petition for a local map that better reflects actual conditions. Cost impact estimated at ~2% of construction cost for moderate/high zones, or about $800 for low-risk homes. The code includes structure hardening and defensible space requirements.
• No public comment was offered. The ordinance was adopted unanimously (6-0; Councilmember DeBoutez had left).

Appointments to Boards and Commissions

• Chris Garcia was appointed to the Civil Service Commission for a six-year term.
• Zachary Armstrong was appointed to the Stormwater Board for a three-year term.
• Jennifer Remers was appointed to the Commission on Disabilities for a three-year term.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda (Items 10–26): Approved 7-0.
• Item 27 (GWIP Annexation No. 15): Amended and adopted 7-0.
• Item 28: Removed from agenda.
• Wildfire Code Ordinance: Adopted 6-0 on second reading, effective after publication.
• Oversight Committee Discussion: Council directed staff to bring the matter to a work session on March 24, 2026, to finalize selection process and membership details. Applications will open March 20, 2026, with a target to formalize the committee on April 7, 2026.
• Councilmember Butler Resignation: Councilmember Tommy Butler announced his resignation effective after the meeting due to his acceptance of a nomination for State House District 50. A farewell reception was held in the lobby. The council will need to appoint a replacement for Ward 1.
• Meetings scheduled: No additional meetings announced beyond regular schedule.