Greeley City Council Regular Meeting – May 19, 2026

The Greeley City Council met in regular hybrid session on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. in Council Chambers at 1001 11th Avenue, Greeley, Colorado, and via Zoom. Council appointed David 'Craig' Huddleston to the vacant Ward I seat, administered his oath of office, approved consent items, conducted four public hearings, made board appointments, and authorized an executive session related to the Civic Campus project. No changes were made to the posted agenda. The executive session began at 8:43 p.m., concluded at 10:06 p.m., and the meeting then adjourned.

Consent Calendar

• Item 12: Motion to approve proceedings of the April 16 special meeting, April 21 City Council meeting, and April 28 work session.
• Item 13: Resolution adopting an intergovernmental agreement with Weld County for a new 24-hour ballot drop-off location.
• Item 15: Resolution establishing the Mayor's Economic Development Task Force.
• Item 14 (DOLA Homelessness Resolution Program Grant) was pulled by Mayor Pro Tem McDonald for separate consideration. Items 12, 13, and 15 were approved 7–0.

Recognitions and Proclamations

• Historic Preservation Month Proclamation for May 2026, accepted by Greeley Historic Preservation Commission members; events include a May 21 celebration at the Greeley Creative Arts Center and a May 28 history hour.
• National Public Works Week Proclamation for May 17–23, 2026, marking the 66th annual observance; accepted by Public Works Director Seth Sorensen and Infrastructure Superintendent Jerry Pickett.
• National Travel and Tourism Week Proclamation (May 3–9, 2026); speakers cited $28.5 billion in Colorado travel economic output and 457,000 jobs in 2024, plus about $447 million in direct travel spending in Greeley/Weld County in 2024.
• Early Risers Toastmasters Club #784 Day Proclamation, recognizing the club's 75 years since chartering on May 8, 1951; accepted by club officers and members.
• Councilmember DeBoutez presented the What's Great About Greeley report highlighting community awards and partnerships. Mayor Hall welcomed Seth Sorensen as Public Works Director.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Geoffrey Havens, a Greeley resident and former Historic Site Supervisor, asked Council to remove the 501(c)(3) museum-operations recommendation from the CPRD Cost Recovery Management Plan and return the plan for revision. He cited proposed fourth-grade field trip costs of about $29 per child, up to $40 for nonresidents, versus $5 per student at History Colorado.
• Tannis Bator urged prioritizing Greeley's museums and cultural assets in budget decisions, citing History Fest and other unique community attractions.
• Gary Alexander supported increased museum investment as a quality-of-life amenity and unique experiential education opportunity, saying he would support tax increases or reallocation of capital funds.
• Karen Zach announced an America 250/Colorado 150 celebration at Bittersweet Park with a flag field July 31–August 2 and a ceremony August 1 at 10:00 a.m.
• Tiffany McCall, accompanied by Fred Charter School of Innovation students, presented a petition with more than 50 signatures asking the city to extend park restroom hours beyond the current May 1–September 30 window.
• Jeremy Peterson, a Windsor resident and founder of Identity Pet Nutrition, opposed large-scale data center projects, saying they place extraordinary demands on electricity, water, and infrastructure and generate noise; he advocated balanced industrial growth for small and mid-sized businesses.
• Steve Teets raised safety concerns about new paratransit vans with rear exits and opposed e-bikes and e-scooters as unsafe for pedestrians, asking for ordinances and enforcement.
• Jude Nordstrom complained about the room's audio system, asked that the Cascadia issue be placed on the ballot, and urged action on train horn noise at railroad crossings.
• Tiffany Simmons criticized the CPRD cost recovery framework's benchmark communities, citing Greeley's 15% poverty rate and $70,000 median income versus higher-income benchmark communities; she cited phase-three average increases of 32%, Special Olympics basketball from $30 to $127, adult activity center lunches from $5 to over $30, special events from $10 to $63, and a 3,606% increase for Hands on History.
• Bill Gillard blamed part of the city's budget crisis on prior council and management decisions and requested a longer period between first and second reading of ordinances.
• Peggy Sue Squires urged transparency and fiscal responsibility, cited police staffing shortages, homelessness, and fentanyl overdoses, and said there is community talk of a recall.
• Stephanie Ludvigsen, speaking personally as a West Greeley Project Oversight Committee member, said the committee process was not structured to produce meaningful analysis within the remaining six weeks.
• Mary Metzger expressed concerns about the oversight committee facilitator's alleged bias toward the Cascadia/Catalyst project, the city manager's salary, a data center partnership with county commissioners, and affordability; she asked for a November ballot question.
• Evan Peterson, speaking virtually, supported placing Cascadia/Catalyst on the ballot and criticized the city manager's $300,000 salary relative to low council and mayoral compensation.
• Alexandra Lavelle, speaking virtually, opposed the Cascadia project, asked for a public vote, and alleged Council disregards community input and homeless residents.

Reports and Initiatives

• Mayor Pro Tem McDonald reported on Weld Project Connect, noting the next event is October 15, and on a Monday meeting with Weld County, the airport authority, and city staff about east sub-area planning.
• Councilmember Roth reported on a water resources tour with Councilmember DeBoutez, thanked water and inspection staff, encouraged attendance at the Memorial Day ceremony Monday at 9 a.m., and announced the first USL League 2 home game for Atletico Union on Saturday at 6 p.m. at Jackson Field.
• Councilmember DeBoutez reported riding Greeley-Evans Transit routes 1 and 5, noting a squeaky brake issue on Route 1, and announced office hours the next evening at 5 p.m. at Atlas Coffee House.
• Mayor Hall reported that a Mongolian delegation visited Greeley and expressed interest in a possible sister city arrangement.
• Councilmember Rudy's initiative to have Parks and Recreation study extending park restroom hours was supported by consensus; City Manager McBroom was directed to follow up.

Discussion Items

• Council assignment updates: Following Huddleston's appointment, Huddleston was assigned to the Human Relations Commission; Roth was assigned to the Downtown Development Authority and the Island Grove Advisory Board; and McDonald was assigned to the Police Pension Board.
• Item 14 – DOLA Homelessness Resolution Program Grant: Homelessness Solutions Director Mandy Shreve said this is the third year of the grant and the structure changes annually. The 2026–27 award is $115,000: $75,000 for eviction prevention assistance and $40,000 for street outreach, expected to be spent within the grant year. McDonald voiced concern about relying on nonrenewable grants, citing $6 million in federal funding absorbed into the general budget. Deputy City Manager Kelli Johnson said these grant dollars fund direct program services, are not tied to FTE positions, and do not require a city match. Shreve said a centralized eviction-prevention coordination system had begun informally but had not been formalized. Huddleston asked for a list of all grant terms, conditions, and riders before execution; the City Attorney agreed to provide it. The motion passed 7–0.
• Item 17 – City Manager salary and benefits: HR Director Martha Lanaghen presented the compensation ordinance: $300,000 base salary, standard city health benefits, a 12% retirement contribution to a 401(k), and PTO accrual at the executive rate for 21 or more years of tenure, capped at 500 hours. McBroom said the charter requires city manager residency and that he has a home under contract in Greeley with a tentative closing of June 8 and a move by end of June. Public hearing testimony included Bill Gillard on ordinance timing, Steve Teets questioning salary proportionality to taxpayers, Tiffany Simmons requesting oversight of past expenses, and Mary Metzger on council oversight; Mayor Hall reminded speakers to keep testimony on the item. DeBoutez noted the job oversees 1,800 employees and a $540 million budget, making $300,000 roughly $33 per hour. McDonald, Rudy, and Hall thanked McBroom; Hall said the salary was below the former city manager's and below general market rates. Huddleston abstained, citing a spoken potential conflict of interest. The motion passed 6–0 with Huddleston abstaining.
• Item 18 – 12th Street Outfall and potable water infrastructure: Chief Engineer Adam Prior said Phase 1 was completed in 2025 for a 10-year storm event and is being upgraded to a 100-year flood event. The existing 6-acre-foot pond would be expanded to about 15 acre-feet. Acquisitions include fee-simple purchases of the Nadir and Allen properties, easements across CDOT Highway 34 right-of-way, and temporary and permanent easements through Leprino Foods. Prior said the city has undertaken 13 eminent domain authorizations over six years involving 148 property owners and 199 parcels, with only four condemnation proceedings and none going to court. Mayor Hall asked about the consequences of not proceeding; Prior cited noncompliance with state water quality requirements and greater downtown flood risk. The Stormwater Advisory Board recommended approval on April 1, 2025. No public speakers testified. The motion passed 7–0.
• Item 19 – Uptown Rezone (ZON2024-0002): Interim Planning Manager Caleb Jackson presented the rezone of 290.56 acres from Holding Agriculture to approximately 235 acres of Commercial High Intensity and 55 acres of Industrial Medium Intensity. The site was annexed in 2000 and had remained H-A; Planning Commission recommended approval 7–0. Applicant representatives Don Ryan (LAI Design Group) and Matt Notter (Roche Constructors) described a 15–20 year conceptual mixed-use vision including retail, residential, open space/conservation easement, and industrial uses. DeBoutez questioned gateway character, community separator consistency, and form-based zoning; staff said commercial uses may fit the community separator near a future interchange and that the application uses traditional zoning. Huddleston asked that industrial traffic be directed to County Road 17 and industrial uses be placed toward the rear; Notter said heavy-traffic users would be directed to County Road 17. Public testimony: Bill Gillard supported the project for economic development and tax base diversification; Steve Teets opposed it, citing loss of agricultural land, transit and traffic concerns, and suggested keeping H-A until issues are resolved. The motion passed 6–1, with DeBoutez voting no.
• Item 20 – Schmerge Annexation H-A zoning: The city initiated holding agriculture zoning on the 219.221-acre former Cascadia PUD property, required within 90 days after the February 24 voter repeal was certified May 5. H-A is a placeholder consistent with the Imagine Greeley Bluffs designation. City Attorney Stacey Aurzada said a pending state Supreme Court case could, if decided for the landowner and followed by district court relief, reinstate the original PUD zoning and supersede H-A; state law nonetheless requires zoning within the 90-day window. Public testimony: Bill Gillard predicted the PUD may be restored and called the process costly; Steve Teets asked to delay until the court case resolves; Mayor Hall said state law does not allow the city to wait. The motion passed 7–0.
• Item 21 – Kinnison Annexation H-A zoning: The companion city-initiated H-A zoning for the 73.319-acre Kinnison property, also formerly in the repealed Cascadia PUD, passed with the same rationale. Planning Commission recommended approval; there were no council questions and no public speakers. The motion passed 7–0.
• Item 22 – Board and Commission appointments: Kent Henson was appointed to the Downtown Development Authority for a 4-year term; Jordan Miller to the Human Relations Commission for a 3-year term; and Ashlyn Craig, Alexandra Reyes, and Lillian Russell to the Youth Commission for 2-year terms.

Executive Session and Final Motions

• Council approved a motion to enter executive session under CRS 24-6-402(4)(a), (4)(e)(I) and Greeley Municipal Code 2-151(a)(1), (a)(5), and if necessary for legal advice under CRS 24-6-402(4)(b) and 2-151(a)(2), to discuss real estate purchase and transfer, negotiate instructions, and legal advice related to the Civic Campus project. The motion passed 7–0 at 8:30 p.m.
• Council authorized the City Attorney to prepare, and the Mayor and City Clerk to sign, any required resolutions, agreements, and ordinances reflecting action taken at this and previous meetings. The motion passed 7–0 by voice vote.
• The executive session was held from 8:43 p.m. to 10:06 p.m.; Mayor Hall reminded participants that no formal action could occur. The meeting then adjourned.

Key Outcomes

• David 'Craig' Huddleston was appointed to the vacant Ward I Council seat by a 6–0 vote, sworn in by Municipal Judge Mark Gonzales, and assigned to the Human Relations Commission; other council assignments were adjusted.
• Consent Agenda Items 12, 13, and 15 were approved 7–0; Item 14 was approved separately 7–0.
• The city manager compensation ordinance was adopted 6–0 with one abstention.
• The 12th Street Outfall and potable water infrastructure ordinance authorizing property purchase and eminent domain was approved 7–0.
• The Uptown Rezone was approved 6–1, with Councilmember DeBoutez dissenting.
• The Schmerge and Kinnison H-A zoning ordinances were each approved 7–0.
• Appointments to the Downtown Development Authority, Human Relations Commission, and Youth Commission were made.
• Parks and Recreation was directed to study extending park restroom hours.
• Council authorized and then held an executive session on the Civic Campus project; no formal action was taken in executive session.