Greeley City Council Regular Meeting - April 7, 2026

The Greeley City Council held its regularly scheduled meeting on April 7, 2026, at 6:00 PM in the City Council Chambers. The meeting included proclamations, extensive public comment focused heavily on transparency and the West Greeley Project, approval of a consent agenda with two items pulled for discussion, and motions to convene executive sessions.

Consent Calendar

• Approved meeting minutes from March 3, March 10, and March 17, 2026.
• Confirmed appointments to the Island Grove Advisory Board (James Herman) and Human Relations Commission (Natalie Luna).
• Established the West Greeley Project Citizen Oversight Committee.
• Authorized a Memorandum of Understanding between the Greeley Police Department and Weld County Sheriff's Office for joint Bureau of Justice Assistance funding.
• Authorized engineering design contracts for clarifier mechanisms at the Wastewater Treatment and Reclamation Facility (Dewberry Engineers Inc.) and for design and construction administrative services for Calabaza Park (RVi Planning + Landscape Architecture).
• Amended the West 10th Street Commercial Corridor Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District boundary.
• Introduced on first reading ordinances for the reappointment of Municipal Judge Mark Gonzales, supplementary appropriations, the issuance of up to $50,000,000 in Water Revenue Bonds, the issuance of up to $50,000,000 in First-Lien Sewer Improvement Revenue Bonds, the West Lowell annexation (56.66 acres) and zoning, and an amendment to election definitions in the municipal code.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Tiffany Simmons expressed opposition to the inclusion of the CareStream property in the three-mile plan and West Greeley GID, alleging a lack of transparency regarding the city's intentions to annex the property and a disregard for Windsor's concerns and the community's stance against AI data centers.
• Kathy Hush criticized the lack of transparency and difficult access to information regarding the Cascadia/Catalyst project, noting that public meetings were poorly attended after the first session.
• Steve Teats raised concerns about the persistent squeaking noise from city buses and the safety hazards posed by e-bikes and scooters, particularly for citizens with disabilities.
• Priscilla Shaner voiced strong concerns about the process for filling the vacant Ward I council seat, arguing that allowing the current council majority to appoint the replacement would consolidate power rather than represent the preferences of Ward I voters.
• Tom Sheener advocated for the establishment of contribution and spending limits on issue committees in local elections, arguing that large amounts of outside money drown out the voices of Greeley residents.
• Mary Metzger stated that trust is built through meaningful community participation and a Community Benefit Agreement, emphasizing that decisions regarding finite resources like water must prioritize residents over developers.
• Jennifer Andrews asked for clear and ongoing transparency regarding water usage for large projects, support for a Community Benefit Agreement (CBA), and for the Ward I appointment to align with the values of the voters who elected Councilmember Butler.
• William Gillard strongly criticized the rushed timeline for the West Greeley Project and proposed a "30/60/30 rule" for major developments: 30 days for public release of documents before first reading, 60 days between readings, and 30 days for appeals. He expressed general support for the project but deep dissatisfaction with its handling.
• David Heald stated the West Greeley Project's timing was problematic due to rising fuel and water costs, and that the burden on taxpayers would be too high. He expressed disappointment that the results of the special election were not heeded.
• Joel Patterson (Virtual) emphasized the need for developer promises regarding water usage to be contractual and subject to penalties, and stressed the need for thorough infrastructure planning before rushing into projects.
• Evan Peterson (Virtual) criticized the council's inaction regarding the JBS strike and expressed political views.
• Chris Simmons (Virtual) connected the Holocaust Days of Remembrance proclamation to a call for the council to actively protect the constitutional rights of immigrants and community members from federal actions.

Discussion Items

• West Greeley Project Citizen Oversight Committee (Item 10): Mayor Hall pulled this item and outlined a process to narrow the 59 applicants. Councilmembers will use a rubric to score candidates on relevant experience and their stance (support/oppose/neutral) to select approximately 20 for interview at a special meeting on April 16, 2026.
• West Greeley GID Inclusion Area Modification (Item 22): Councilmember DeBeaute pulled this item for clarification. City staff explained the modification removed neighborhoods that do not benefit from planned improvements and added all properties brought into the Three-Mile Plan (CareStream, Great Western Industrial Park, Hankins Farm). Councilmember Olson clarified that the owner of the CareStream property voluntarily sought annexation because Greeley has provided water service to the area for over 50 years and Windsor is unable to service the property.
• Ward I Vacancy: Multiple commenters urged the council to prioritize an appointee who reflects the values of the Ward I electorate over the preferences of the existing council majority, warning that failing to do so would further erode public trust.

Key Outcomes

• The consent agenda was approved excluding Items 10 and 22, with a vote of 6-0.
• A special meeting was approved for April 16, 2026, to conduct interviews for the West Greeley Project Citizen Oversight Committee (vote 6-0).
• The West Greeley GID boundary amendment was introduced on first reading, with the public hearing and second reading scheduled for April 21, 2026 (vote 6-0).
• The council voted 6-0 to enter Executive Session to receive legal advice and instruct negotiators on the West Greeley Project (agenda item 27).
• The council voted 6-0 to enter Executive Session to discuss personnel reporting to the city council and to receive legal advice (agenda item 28).
• The council authorized the City Attorney to prepare necessary documents reflecting actions taken.
• The council entered executive session at 7:23 PM and adjourned the public meeting.