Good evening and welcome to the Greeley City Council meeting this 20th day of August.
Call this order.
I would like to welcome those of you who are present in chambers, as well as those who may be watching us virtually this evening.
Item 2 is a pledge of allegiance. Please stand a fable and join us.
Budget agents of the United States of America.
And to the Republic.
One issue under the indivisible.
Roll, call, please.
Councilmember, butler, present.
Councilmember, present.
Mayor, pro tem. Hall, present.
Councilmember Peyton, present.
Councilmember, Olson, Councilmember Mcdonald, present Mayor Gates.
Present. All 7 members of city council are present this evening.
Long agenda. So let's move through it this time. Item for approval. The agenda, Mr. Lee. Any changes.
None at this time, your honor, thank you. Item 5 is, and proclamations.
Do have one proclamation this evening.
For national public lands, day.
I would ask.
Cpr. Director, Diana Frick Justin Shorten, a natural Oriental manager, and any staff present from Cpr. To meet me at the podium voice.
Wow!
They're still coming.
We travel in a well. Yes, you do. Is the bus out front.
Thank you all for being here, and it's my pleasure on behalf city.
To read a proclamation recognizing national public land.
Whereas national public Lands day fosters a strong connection between people and nature.
And whereas the city's natural areas, parks, and other natural spaces are recognized for their significant impacts. To Greeley residence, quality of life.
And whereas the city of encourages all residents to join in the care and celebration of our public plans.
And whereas 2024 marks, the 31st annual.
National public Lands Day, celebration.
Now, therefore, I, John Gates, may of the city, agreely.
Do hereby proclaim.
That date is wrong, is it not.
No, it is okay. I should have read it just like it was September 28, th 24.
As national public Lands day in the city of Greeley, and encourage all residents to engage in the celebration and stewardship of Greeley's natural areas.
In Widnes, where, by appearing to set my hand, it caused to be a fixed.
The official seal of the city of Greeley.
This 20th day of August 24.
Present this to you with our thanks, and will welcome any comments that you might have.
Thank you, Mayor, counsel.
Thank you for this recognition of national public Lands day. It's truly an honor to stand before you today, surrounded by so many staff who share a deep love and commitment to our public lands.
Our public lands are not just of wilderness, they are the heart and soul of our nation.
They provide us clean air, fresh water, and endless opportunities for recreation and reflection.
They are places where we connect with nature, with each other, and with the very essence of what it mean means to be stewards of this earth.
This recognition is for the staff that have dedicated their time, energy, and passion to preserving and enhancing these valuable spaces.
It is a testament to the collective effort of everyone. Staffers, conservationists, community leaders, and all the advocates.
Who work tirelessly to protect and sustain our public lands for future generations.
As we celebrate national public Lands day. Let's remember that our work is never finished.
We must continue to advocate for these lands, ensuring that they remain protected and accessible for all.
It is our duty to pass on this legacy of conservation, so that our children and grandchildren can experience the same beauty and wonder that we have been privileged to enjoy.
Thank you again for this recognition. Let's keep our public lands and protected.
No, sir.
Get coded.
Thank you all very much. We appreciate what you do each and every day for us in the city of Greeley.
You too, Eric?
Councillor Mcdonald. Would you wrap up? Item 5 with tonight's installment? What's great about Greeley?
I will. Thanks.
Set against the front range of the Rocky Mountains. Greeley is a city of diversity and innovation, where a city of ideas with a community culture of opportunity and a restless spirit that will challenge expectations. Greeley has much to be proud of, and at each count's meeting we intentionally showcase the stories that make Greeley a great place to live.
Work and play.
I'll begin with a quote.
And always we will transmit this city, not only, but greater and more beautiful than it was transmitted to us. So tonight we celebrate the success of our community. We celebrate greatly.
Governor Jared Polis appointed Dr. Brenda Campos of Greeley to the University of Northern Colorado's Board of Trustees.
Brenda or Doctora.
Campos, as her patients call her, is a Latina physician at Sunrise Community Health, and serves as District School Board Director. She will serve on the UN. Board through the end of the year. Congratulations, Brenda.
This fall, Ames Community College will provide the Ford automotive student Service educational training.
Program that provides a paid internship while receiving a real worldwide.
Exposure and an associate degree. The Ames program is the Colorado's only Ford.
Asset program and the 41st nationwide.
Greeley's Charles L. Cooper has been chosen for a lifetime. Achievement award by the Strathos.
Who's Who world for his outstanding congratulations and achievements in the field of finance and retirement, planning.
Chuck is the owner of the President's.
President of the Master's financial group, and formerly worked for the Greeley police department.
Greeley optometris. Katie Bond was given the young optometrist of the year award by the Colorado Uptometric Association.
The city of Greeley Recreation Division received a $20,000 donation from Philip 66.
The funds will benefit, swim lesson participants help the city with equipment, upgrades and buying new technology for swim lesson programming.
University of Northern Colorado, Jordan Delacruz, in.
Earned one of the 3 highly sought-after women's weightlifting spots on Team U.S.A. To compete in the 24 Olympic games Jordan took 5th place overall. This was Jordan's second appearance at the Olympics.
She also competed in the 20 Tokyo games.
And in case you didn't know.
Greely ranked number 5 on the 50 best sunsets, worldwide list.
The list is based on social media using Tiktok popularity and local light pollution levels.
And that is what's great about Greeley.
Thank you. Melissa.
Item 6 is citizen input. During this portion of meeting anyone may address.
The City Council on any item of city business appropriate for council that is now not already listed. On this evening's agenda.
I would ask that you limit your comments to 3 min and give us your city of residence for the record.
Most of the folks on the list I have are here for item 21.
So I'll pass on you at this time, but there are some that are not billard.
Good evening, Bill!
Well, Gillard, 1, 4, 1, 50.
I just hear rumors around the city, and I think the best place to get them resolved is here.
Because you guys all know what the city's doing.
And I don't.
I've heard that we're building. We got a loan for about 20 million to build homes for the homes.
I've also heard that the homeless can earn 14 bucks an hour.
And are the homeless going to be paying for these rooms they're gonna stay in? Or is the public gonna be paying.
I know you say we get a grant, but if the grant comes from the government, it's still taxpayers, money.
So those are the rumors out there, and I just wanna know.
Are we paying? Have people like sit in a room and not be able to work.
Because they can't.
Is it cold? They can't. No homes for homes.
Is Miss Kitten here this evening.
No, your honor, she's out this evening, but there are no loans that we're looking at for housing at this time. We do have programs that we do for housing voucher program that we have been able to house people through. But that's it.
That we're not. We didn't get a grant to build any.
No grant to build housing.
That wrestled room. Thank you, thank you, Bill.
Steve teats, please.
Barra Bright. Good evening. My name is Steve and Greeley, and 1st of all the surveys. Last time I was here I gave you some surveys were you able to fill them out, and not just the city council, but also.
Ones that behind the desk, and at the meeting I would like to receive them as possible.
Second of all.
I would like to mention, too.
That.
The surveys I already got. I know you guys are busy and everything like that. But I would like you to read through.
Whoops. Sorry what I have here, because that'll help you more of what the community is not just thinking, but also they have some ideas in these too, so.
It would be nice if you could read them all. I got about 500 of them that's about so that's 1 of the things. And another thing is, in 2022 you hired consultants, and you paid them $71,000, but they didn't do the due diligence. I mean, they didn't go out to really get surveys. You had 3 meetings that not too many people attended. Number one wasn't very.
Well advertised as well.
So I just think that.
We need to do a better job to find out what is if it's in housing, homelessness, transit, or whatever other issue. Also the
One of the
Groups that I belong to is welding disabilities, and we are trying to put a.
Conference together a 4 day conference, and I'm asking some people.
In Will County as well as out of Will County, to speak at the conference about housing and homelessness, and we need to be educated, and and also come up with ideas.
More than we got.
And from the people themselves, too, and could use your help, too, as well. Some input and maybe some support.
Also, let's see.
Okay. And we would like to have other organizations to help us out, too, because something like this you need more than just one group, you know, especially when it's an issue like this.
Let's see.
It.
Okay. I already mentioned that. Okay, I guess I'm done for right now.
But I would like to encourage that. We really housing homeless problem as well as the transit transportation problem, because they go together as well as the employment. Thank you.
Thanks, Steve.
Is there anybody else in the Chambers that would like to address council on the.
An item that's not on our agenda this evening. If so, I would welcome you up at this time.
Okay, how about our virtual audience, Pamela?
If there's a.
Sure.
Yeah, if you want to speak both times, it asks that you not talk about the agenda item now. But if you have an item that's not on our agenda. I'd welcome you up at this time.
Yeah, if you'd give those to the cork right here, sir.
Welcome!
Well, I'm Jesse James from Greeley, Colorado.
Your name. One more time, Sir Jesse James Stalder. Okay, thank you.
Okay? So 1st of all, since this is an item not on the agenda. I would just like to talk about a new refrigeration that could be integrating the future.
And here's a refrigeration design. It's called equal. It's a non flammable low pressure and evaporator and condenser high thermal conductivity with heat, absorption.
Low friction and minimal oil requirement.
That means it's a dropping refrigerant to all these other systems that we have out there. We got our 22 systems. We got 502 systems, low pressure systems.
For places we got and on central air systems. But this is a direct dropping, because it's so compatible with all these other refrigerants. And then on top of it. It's non flammable. It takes some of your refrigerants we use now, like Isobutane and and stuff that are flammable, and by adding 2 other refrigerants, carbon dioxide. In our 279 it becomes non flammable. So we're not putting in it or any of our technicians out there on the roof at risk.
For it blowing up anymore. It's not gonna be like, we have a component failure. And we have to worry about our refrigeration system catching fire. It's now non toxic. It's now flammable. It actually it darn is outlined. I have the color coordination of it. It's gonna tell you right where it lands on your chart of it's gonna be putting a tail. And that's like our safest refrigerant we have. It's it's it's it's actually it's Omega. That's why I put it through. I ran it through AI.
To check all my work, and AI calls it Omega 69. So is this something that I wouldn't have been able to put this in English terms without using AI as my help of putting my paper together. And so it's just something that I would like us to look over, because
It highlights some of your other subjects. And then it's actually a safe alternative that we have right now for our refrigeration industry. And so that's all I want to cap about. If you guys wanna read the papers.
I'm more happy to talk to you about it. But I kinda answered every question about on the paper. So the rest of it's like, how you guys gonna put it out there. The rest of it's up to you guys. So.
Any questions is like, hopefully.
I get a job off of it somewhere, you know.
Thank you. Thank you, Jesse.
Anybody else in the chambers.
Sir! Come on! Up!
Good evening.
The evening council members.
I'm Matthew Casey. I live at 2 5 Dundee Avenue, in West Greeley.
Yeah.
I recently read an article in the Gazette.
That was originally written by.
Biz, West.
Regarding the proposed.
Development in West Greeley.
You know the the Greely West.
Project, which is a.
Public private partnership that's been.
Approved, and.
Concept, I believe, by your counsel.
With the Water Valley Company.
I'm all for the project.
As a citizen of Greeley.
For many years. I.
Do not get information from the Greely tribunal.
I did initially try to subscribe to the Tribune, never received a copy.
Nothing against the Tribune, but I believe it would be helpful to.
The citizens of Greeley.
Prospective, commercial developers.
And others that have an interest in Greeley, and to people that have an interest in seeing really differently.
To have the city manager's office, or another entity in your.
City to put out periodical.
Information through public information officer.
Or other news releases.
Because it's very difficult to try to.
Find information.
Such as.
I just described for a port, for a project that is.
Very important to the future Greeley, and and has a.
Benefit or detriment to many people.
I think it's very progressive to have a public partnership with someone special like Water Value Company.
I'd.
Welcome the opportunity to learn about it without searching for it. So.
Again.
Periodical.
Information.
Submitted to the public, either through written.
Communication through the Us. Mail or otherwise.
Would be very helpful rather than see. An article was written by Biz.
You know, 2 or 3 weeks ago, re.
Published by.
The tribune.
So.
That, said, I, welcome the opportunity for a development such as.
You're entertaining, and I would like to have more information available.
Thank you, Mr. Casey. Do you? Do you have social media.
Well, I do have a computer. Does that answer your question? Well, if you have social media, I mean, I went kicking and screaming, but I had to go there myself.
City really government page on social media.
Got much of what you're looking for, is it? Is it written in mail to residents? No, but it's the easier the better.
Agree.
You can also find all of our press releases just on the main page of Greeley, Com. Greeley, Gov. Webpages has all our press releases too.
Thank you. Thank you for your comments, sir.
Anybody else in the chambers.
Let's move back to the virtual, please.
If there's anyone in our virtual audience who would like to speak, please indicate, by pressing the raise hand at the bottom of your screen.
There is no one in our virtual audience who wishes to speak.
Thank you, Pamela. Let's move to item 7.
Reports from Mayor and Council members, reports, evening colleagues.
Councillor Butler, please thank you, Mayor. I just wanted to say it was actually lovely. Last Wednesday to join a couple of you out at the National Guard. Facility here in Greenleigh. Right next to the airport. They
Do some fantastic work. Don't know from that tour what we're allowed to talk about, because it is top secret stuff, but I'm sure they wouldn't have told us. But yeah, they do. Some really important work. Pertains to missile defense. Right here in our backyard. And it was fantastic to meet those folks. To meet agile for Colorado, and anyone that has an opportunity to go out there and check out what they're up to.
They hosted an open house this year, and they plan to do another one next year. So if you have that opportunity, I would highly recommend it.
Read. Tommy and I had never before met a major general. So now I have.
Thank you, Councillor Mcdonald. Please.
I just wanted to remind Council and anybody in chambers of 2 things. So applications are now open for the Citizens police Academy. You finish that, and you get a certificate. With shooting simulation.
Well, you don't shoot people, but you have to determine whether they're a threat or not, so I think it's a good. It's good. And then the fire department has a citizens Academy that is, gonna go 6 weeks, and that one you get to have a certificate of Cpr. By the end of that. So I signed up.
And I hope I'm picked cause they're gonna pick 30 people.
So I'm really excited about that. So if you need information, talk to either the chiefs and or myself, and we'll get you connected.
Subtle as a freight train, you know.
Jeep did hear that.
Any additional Reports, Council.
Seeing none. Let's move to Item 8. Are there any initiatives this evening?
No initiatives noted Heidi were ready for the consent. Agenda.
Thank you, your honor.
Item number 9, a motion to approve the work. Session meeting, proceedings of July 23, rd 2,024. The recommended action is to approve the motion.
Item, 10.
A resolution of the City Council of the city of Greeley, authorizing city staff to enter into an agreement to a settlement amendment to a Settlement Agreement and release between Matthew Wilson and Kenneth Emmick.
The recommended action is to adopt the resolution.
Item 11. Introduction and 1st reading of an Ordinance amending title, 2 of the Greeley Municipal Code, to create the Housing for all Advisory Board.
The recommended action is to introduce the ordinance and schedule the public hearing and second reading for September 3.rd
Item 12.
Introduction and 1st reading of an Ordinance amending title 20 of the Greely Municipal code relating to the prohibition of lead pipes.
The recommended action is to introduce the ordinance and schedule the public hearing and second reading for September 17.th
Item 13.
Introduction and 1st reading of an Ordinance, amending title 20. Article 3, Division one, and Article 5 of the Greeley Municipal Code, relating to the use and construction of domestic and agricultural wells.
The recommended action is to introduce the ordinance and schedule the public hearing and second reading for September 17, th 24.
You Heidi.
Council. That is your consent, agenda. Is there a desire to pull any of those items? Please.
I'd like to move to approve items 9 through 13 of the consent agenda.
Motion by council, Olson, second by Councillor Hall.
Roll, call, vote, please.
Councilmember. Butler. Aye.
Councilmember debut. Aye.
Mayor, pro tem. Hall.
Councilmember, Payton, Councilmember Olson, Member Mcdonald, Hi. Mayor.
Bye.
Consent. Agenda passes unanimously. Item 15 is a food tax rebate program overview.
This is informational welcome. Caleb's to the podium.
Good evening.
Good evening, Mayor, in council. It's a pleasure to be here this evening. Next slide.
So here, this slide is a overview of our agenda tonight. We will be giving an overview of the food tax rebate program as the mayor mentioned. This is for informational purposes. So we'll be covering the qualification criteria. The application process. Looking at the program utilization which has significantly expanded over the past few years communication and outreach efforts which have been robust the past few years, as well as.
Contributed to that expansion.
And then some future considerations that Staff is thinking through as we look towards program administration in 2025.
Next slide.
So this slide provides an overview of the program. So the rebate program was established in 1,990. In conjunction with the food tax for sales, of food for home consumption being put in place. The purpose for this program is it's recognized that taxing food for home consumption is burdensome for low income residents.
So the purpose of this program is to offset that impact.
So you can see here that the rebate amount has been raised over the years. So 2,014 and earlier, it was $45 per person.
In 2020, from 2015 to $2165 a person, and since 2022 it's been raised to a hundred dollars a person. And just a note on some of the data that we'll be looking at rebates are issued for the previous year. So 2023 rebates are the most recently issued ones, and those were issued earlier this year.
In 2024 this program was established by ordinance, our administrative and done.
By the city manager. Next slide.
So, who qualifies.
An individual who, has reside in Greeley for T. At least 10 months and the preceding year, and is still a resident at the time of application.
And then household incomes are specified at the below levels. This is based on the State's low income energy assistance program in 23. So this is something that's looked at every year.
So you can see here, as an example, that a household of.
Persons would qualify.
Would have.
With an income of about 71,000 would qualify for this program.
With a 400 rebate for each individual in the household.
That means that if there was a 4 person household who got the rebate last year, taxes were rebated for over $13,000 worth of groceries during the year, or a little over $1,100 a month.
Next slide.
So this just contains some information about the application process. As I mentioned, the most recent rebates were issued earlier this year. That application period ran from February through May. One single application covers both the food tax, rebate and utility.
Assistance. There are required documents to prove residency and income required, and income.
Verification.
There is information available at the city's website.
And paper applications are also available, and it takes about 3 weeks to process a food tax rebate.
Next slide.
So this slide here outlines the historical program. As you can see from this slide, there has been robust growth in the participation in this program over the past few years. This, this was an intentional effort on the city's part in terms of increasing outreach and marketing for the program as
A few years ago, city leadership that this program was historically being underutilized. You can see most recently in 2023. So once again rebates that were issued earlier this year there was a total of almost 2,500 households that received rebates a total of.
$562,000 in food tax rebated, and of those residents who received the rebate that equated to about 5% of the city's total population.
Between 2022 and 2023, there was an 80% increase in households that participated.
Next slide.
So this chart here shows the total number of.
Rebates per household that were issued over the last 10 years, and once again you can see that strong growth.
That has occurred over the last 2 years.
Next slide.
This is similar data showing the total amount.
That has been rebated over that same year period.
Next slide.
So this slide just provides an overview of the communication and outreach efforts that the city has undertaken the past few years. We've ensured that information is available in many different languages. We have bilingual assistants available at City Hall during business hours. We've significantly expanded our community outreach efforts including efforts at community events.
Distributing flyers to local businesses and other meetings digital marketing. I think many of you have probably seen advertisements on social media. The city has been using it social media channels to to ensure that the community is aware of this program. And then there's also been various physical marketing.
Efforts around the city. Finally, we've collaborated with the Homelessness Solutions Department to ensure that their clients are aware of this program as well.
Next slide.
So, as I mentioned earlier this.
Program is administered by the city manager. These are some of the future programs that Staff is thinking through as we head into 25 for the 2024 rebates. Those areas would include income, criteria and eligibility.
The rebate amount and frequency, looking at a regular review schedule, for when the rebate amount should be increased, continuing our outreach.
Efforts looking at some program administration as well as long-term sustainability. We would welcome any feedback that the Council has. As we consider these issues ahead of next year's program.
And with that I'll be happy to take any questions. Thank you.
Questions, for Caleb.
What I took out of this, Caleb, is that.
The food tax rebate system is used.
But it certainly could be used more.
And this the follow up, is a question, and that would be.
Would council have the ability to raise that level if they so desired.
So are you in terms of the amount that could be rebated per individual. Yes. So that ability exists administratively, currently with the city manager. If Council wanted to provide input that they would like to see that level raised. That is, that is something we could certainly take into account.
Councillor Butler. Please.
Thank you, Mered, to that point. I think that's something I've been talking about for the last 2, 3 years.
And I would certainly love to see that as a work session. I did ask for a work session on that earlier this year. But it doesn't make sense to start doing that. If we don't know if the food tax is gonna pass. So it's certainly a discussion. I think that we have to have.
Hopefully next year.
That's where Olson, please.
This is great information, and I think it highlights.
The city's ability to help our lower income folks with.
Our food tax initiatives.
I do like the idea of evaluating it. What it looks like. What can we do? Some of your long term sustainability, and some of these eligibility criteria, I think, are important.
Indexing it.
What is the budget, do we? Where does that budget come from? And what program is that in.
So that's currently budgeted in the Food Tax fund. So.
For example, in the 25 budget, we are planning approximately $600,000 for this program. But the the payments are based on actuals of people who apply and and are eligible.
We had a pretty significant about 500,000 this year, right?
Correct.
And so that's something we evaluate annually as part of the budget, and obviously as part of the.
The the rebate amounts that that are being administered.
And it's based on $13,000.
A.
So that was just some rough math, using an illustrative of a household of 4. That would be a little over $13,000 a year worth of groceries that have the sales tax rebated
For a household of 4.
Under the current numbers.
Any additional questions or comments. Council.
Councillor Beauty, please. Thank you. Mayor. In addition, we talk about this. I'd like a little more information on the types of food items that.
That are taxable? Are they prepared foods, or is it.
Rah.
Fruits and vegetables, or.
So this is a tax on food for home consumption. So groceries you would buy, not prepared foods, I believe, is a different
Different tax.
Okay.
Okay. Thank you.
See any additional questions. Thank you, Cale, appreciate it.
Item 16 is a public hearing and second reading of an ordinance amending article 10 of chapter 5 of title 2.
At the girly municipal code relating to museums.
There is no
Presentation forthcoming. This is housekeeping.
And just, delineates.
Museum sites and museums.
So on that note that does counsel. Have any questions before you open a public hearing.
Seeing none. This is a public hearing. I open a public hearing at this time.
Each speaker will be limited to 3 min. Please begin by stating your name and city. So the record.
Anyone wish to speak to City Council about the.
Municipal code related to museums.
I predicted that outcome. Nobody in Chambers.
Pamela. Is there anybody online that would like to address us.
If there's anyone in our virtual audience who wishes to speak, please indicate, by pressing the raise hand button at the bottom of your screen.
There's no one in our virtual audience who wishes to speak.
I will close the public hearing at this time, and entertain discussion and action by city council.
I'd make a motion to adopt the ordinance and publish with reference to title.
Very well, Councillor. Also on the motion Councillor Hall on the second roll call, vote, please.
Councilmember, butler.
I'd just like to make a quick comment before Mayor. Sure, I don't have a problem with this particular ordinance.
I do think that we need to have a presentation whenever we are doing an ordinance, though in the future. But, bye.
So noted.
Councilmember, Dubie. Aye.
Mayor, pro tem. Hall.
Councilmember Peyton. Alright.
Councilmember Olson. Aye.
Councilmember Mcdonald. Aye.
Mayor Gates.
Aye, motion carries 7 0.
Item 17 is a public hearing and second reading of an ordinance authorizing and approving.
From the Colorado water resources and Power Development Authority.
For the purpose of financing capital improvements to the water system, approving the loan agreement and the issuance of a bond.
To evidence alone providing for the payment of the bond.
From the operation of the water system on the terms and conditions provided in the bond ordinance. Good evening.
Good evening, Mayor and members of Council.
Long title tonight. Wanna introduce myself. Shawn's Director of water and sewer utilities with me. Virgil Pierce. He's our utility finance manager, and we're gonna try and simplify the title for you.
The purpose is, we're here to seek your approval for an ordinance authorizing the water to enter into a loan obligation with a Colorado water resource and power development authority. And we're doing that to address our lead service line program.
The the proposed loan funds are Federal funds that are passed through from EPA to the Colorado water resource and power development authority for the benefit of utilities across the State.
They do that under the drinking Water Revolving fund program.
You see here before you, the loan is in the amount of $20,910,725 a significant amount of money. But there's a significant issue to address.
And any lead pipe or pipes that were connected to lead underground are not cheap to replace fundamentally.
The benefits of this loan structure. It's a lot like a construction draw loan. You're able to do the work, draw against it, and you only incur interest after you've taken the funding.
It's on a 30 year term, and it has an interest rate of 3 and a half percent. That's about an interest rate point.
More or more efficient or lower than what we could achieve in a revenue bond in the private market.
There are additional costs that come. With that, however, we're obligated to follow Davis.
Buy America, build America, and engage in the procurement process with disadvantage. Good faith efforts essentially making sure the disadvantaged contractors have opportunities to bid and do the work.
It also requires a State Historical Preservation Office Review.
However.
For the efficiency, both in the interest rate, the interest paid over the construction draw, and the fact that it has a 10 million dollar principle, forgiveness.
This is a great deal for the city to address a public health issue with the led in our service lines.
Last note on the slide, we additionally received a separate funding of $250,000 a grant from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environments Water Quality Control Division. That funding is being used today. You'll note in the next slide that we are in phase, 2 of this project to identify and replace led service lines. So we're actively out there, Id and replacing today.
And the $250,000 from the State came with far less strings, and we're able to move much more quickly and efficiently.
We're also using repair dollars in the current activities.
Next slide, please.
There's a lot to take in here. But essentially the map at the right.
Shows the 1st 3 phases of the project. These are our highest priority areas to address potential led service lines.
We have a history of documents from the utility that tell us where we think.
The majority of the lead service lines are, that record is known as the lead book in phase, one which is within the red polygon. We've gone to every address in the in the lead book, and we've done initial investigations, basement inspections, and in some cases potholing.
Potholing is really the process or activity of boring a very fine small hole into the ground.
To locate and identify a pipe of any kind. And so what we're looking for when we pothole is that material led? Or was it galvanized downstream of a lead connection out of the service main.
And so any of those types of events have to be replaced.
We have to produce a significant inventory, to provide to the State, to prove our compliance with the revised rule.
So you see, the red area is the phase one, or it's actually phase 2.
Phase. One was within the red.
Green is phase 3. Blue is phase 4, and then phase 5 are the lowest priority areas. They are outside of downtown. They are much further west, and because of the age of the structures, we don't believe there to be any issue or risk of lead.
So the 21 million dollar loan, the approximately 21 million dollars in loan proceeds would fund hopefully all the work in phase 2, 3, and 4 that you see here on the map.
Next slide, please.
It's noteworthy that the Department of Public Health and Environment and the Colorado water Resource and Power Development Authority approved our loan back in the spring.
The Water Board approve the loan documents by resolution.
Previously this summer, and then we're here before you tonight, seeking your approval of the ordinance to allow us to enter into the loan.
The Shipper review is still being finalized, but we expect clearance. And in order to be able to proceed in August of 24. So this month.
Next slide.
So with that we have a recommendation. The staff in the Water and Sewer Board recommend the approval of the ordinance for entering into the approximately 21 million dollar loan with a color of water resource and power development authority with 10 million dollars of loan forgiveness.
Questions for Mr. Chambers, or pierce.
Councillor Wilson.
This might shock you that I'm gonna ask this question.
But are you coordinate with public works? Cause digging those up and finding that line.
Puts a lot of.
Damage to the roads. Are you coordinating with them on their paving? So we get in and do those before they come in and pave.
We we are, indeed! I don't know that I could say there's a hundred coordination. There are some projects that were in the queue before we could get.
The the loan identify the lead identification into the into the project. It is part of the reason that 16th Street has been slower out of the gate than originally anticipated.
Is. There are a number of old structures there. There's not a lot of room in the in the right way, and we need to address any lead service or galvanize downstream, led in advance of doing the roadwork project there. So that is integrated in that project, and it's integrated in all projects, going forward.
Councillor Hall. Please.
Thank you, Mr. Mayor. So on the map on page 3.
The.
Areas that are.
To the west of those colors are.
Basically they were all installed with.
Without lead piping. Is that correct?
It's a it's completely reasonable to assume that they still need to be part of the inventory that's provided to the department, public health and environment. So we need to still get surveys. We need to do basement inspections in some cases. But.
Because of their date. We believe that they are the lowest level of risk for having a lead service line.
And there seems to be a little notch in there.
Between 16 Street and 20th Street.
Are, those.
Not.
I mean, those were built around the same period of time. I would assume.
I think I'm not sure if the notch is in gray, or if the notch you're referring to is in red.
And great? Can you clarify.
Yeah, so
In the event. There, in the event, there's an area there where they're built before 1,940 we will prioritize those 2. I don't know when this map was drafted. But anything that's pre, 1940, we we want a visual inspection, and we wanna know what that service line material is with certainty.
Okay. Thank you.
Counsel, Counselor Butler, please.
Thank you, Mary. I just wanna take the opportunity to.
Ask question, we don't have any lead in any of our lines. This is just the service lines from our lines into homes. Correct.
Yeah. Great, great question. Appreciate that, counselor. There are no lead pipes in the city's municipal water system, right? These are all service lines.
And in fact, really was rather innovative. And before it's time to eliminate as a material that it allowed to be used in the in the city's use of its plumbing of service lines.
So.
Denver water has a much larger obligation to replace lead service lines, in part because it was still in their standard specs and details to allow people to plum with lead from the main to the house. Up until the 19 fifties we stopped, allowing that in the late 19 thirties.
So that that really reduce the size of our our.
Potential problem here, and our potential cost to resolve it, which is fantastic.
I, I may note, the last thing is, we're the only community in the State to receive this type of loan and loan forgiveness. Denver water was the first, st and really our proactive activity by staff led to us, being the second.
Any additional questions of staff.
Seeing none. I'll open a public hearing at this time. Ask anyone wishing to speak to this item, to come forward and do so.
Anybody in the Chambers wish to address this item.
Apparently there is not, so I'd like to.
Ask about the virtual audience.
If there's anyone in our virtual audience who wishes to speak, please indicate, by pressing the raise hand at the bottom of your screen.
There's no one in a virtual audience who wishes to speak.
Post a public hearing at this time.
And open up for discussion and action by city council.
You are moved to adopt the ordinance and publish the title only.
Motion by Councillor Paden, second by Councillor Roll, call, vote, please.
Councilmember. Butler. Aye.
Councilmember debut. Aye.
Mayor, pro tem. Hall.
Councilmember Payton.
Councilmember Olson.
Councilmember Mcdonald, Hi.
I. Motion carries 7 0.
Item 18 is public hearing and second reading of an ordinance, making assessments against the lot, and included within the local improvement district number 3, 4, 3, 7, 9, 5.
To recover the approved minimum cost for construction, for sewer and structure in Greeley, Colorado.
Ashcrop, basin, sanitary sewer, infrastructure.
Chambers. Mr. Pryor. Good evening, gentlemen.
Good evening again. Mayor and council.
I'm gonna introduce the subject and provide just a brief amount of context before Adam Prior takes over. Wanna remind you, the Ashcroft draw basin to Orient yourself is the Uc. Health Hospital and the property behind it to the south and southwest. It's a tremendous basin with the St. Michael subdivision and a lot of room for growth.
And the context of the item before you tonight is that since 2,002 the city had an intergovernmental agreement with the city of.
To allow for sewer service by Evans for the benefit of those homes in Greeley.
That we did that because there's gravity flow from St. Michael's and Uc. Health.
Down Ashcroft to the Evans treatment plant in about 2,018 or 2,019. Evans gave us notice that they no longer had capacity for Greeley or its growth.
So we we could have capped in St. Michael's right where it is today, and there would be no additional development in the basin.
And then we would have had to ask developers to come in and build the offsite, and you'll see before in the presentation tonight we'd be asking for a 5 million plus off site.
And then the developer would need to be reimbursed by other developers in the basin.
We felt like that kind of inordinately large offsite for a specific basin of the city.
Was gonna hamper the ability for the market to develop naturally. And so the local improvement district or piece under our code allows us to go in and build infrastructure. First.st
Particularly in this kind of case, for a limited geography, and seek reimbursement from those properties within the geography.
And that seemed to be the perfect scenario for this basin that otherwise wouldn't have service.
For any future growth and development.
And so with that, I'm gonna turn it over to Adam Prior and allow him to walk you through this final ordinance on Ashcrop.
Thanks, Shawn. Good evening.
Good evening, councilmembers.
Next slide.
Today's agenda. We're gonna talk about the local improvement the original ordinance. Back in 2021.
The schedule and the costs that we're adopting today or proposing to adopt, and then a final approval of the ordinance next slide. Please.
This is a map of the basin.
That is supported by the Ashcroft Station.
The light blue and dark blue are areas that flow to the lift station, main and force main infrastructure.
And then the orange color is the
Properties that flow to the gravity piece. There are 2 different components to this. Lift this board.
This local improvement district.
And so there's a different cost for each of these infrastructure to support those areas. All constructure was.
Fronted by water and sewer.
And there is an interest fee in this local improvement district that will be paid at building permit.
Next slide, please.
This is the map showing existing infrastructure within St. Michael's area. It's the dark blue. These costs would be paid by the water and tour department.
Or all existing infrastructure.
Originally there was an additional 2 properties in this area that was undeveloped, and since the time of the original ordinance it has been developed, and we've removed those from the.
Lid.
The total cost is about 442,000.
That the city will be covering for these existing infrastructure in the basin.
The rest of the cost is covered by the local Improvement district.
And the costs are all split equally within all services.
Within the basin.
Next slide.
Here's a breakdown of the original ordinance done in July of 21.
It was broken down across all services with.
2,000 425,000 for gravity, sewer.
4,875,000 for the lift station in Force, Maine.
You see here it was breaking up, based on the capacity in these infrastructures. We did this based on a single family tap.
So in the slide below you can see.
The gravity sewer has 7,051.
Single-family taps.
The estimated cost was 425,000.
And you get a total cost, then of $60 per single family tap.
And the same is for the list, station, and force main. This has a capacity of.
5,156 single family taps.
For a cost of 4.8 7 5 million.
These were maximum numbers.
And this is what proposed back in 2021.
The lift station also is 942.
Or 90, 45 and 50 cents.
Next slide.
Here's the actual construction and finished product.
You can see this along 65th Avenue. The picture on the left. The middle picture is shown inside the lift station.
And then the one on the right is showing the gravity.
Sewer being constructed along Uc. Health.
Next slide.
So.
The local improvement district requires 2 process or 2 steps. The 1st is an original ordinance, which was done in July of 21. This was a public meeting, and.
Set the total maximum prices that were presented in the previous slide.
The second ordinance is tonight to set the actual cost and final properties that we'll have to pay back the local improvement district. And that's what we're here tonight to talk about.
Next slide.
The actual construction costs came in.
Significantly more than the estimated amount, and this was due to Post Covid.
Inflation. We saw a lot of pipe increases here. We also saw a lot of increases in purchasing and easement.
And so the total estimated from the original is still the maximum amount.
The additional cost will be covered by the city of Girly Waters Department.
So based on that. The maximum numbers that we are proposing in 2021 are still the maximum amount that will be done today.
Included also is a 4.4 interest rate, which is recommended by the finance director.
Based on our cost, to pay these loans and bonds to.
Build this infrastructure.
Next slide.
So staff and board recommends that.
The City Council approve an ordinance to finalize the Ask Bra Improvement District.
Any questions.
Questions of chief Engineer prior, please.
Don't see any questions. This is also a public hearing. I'll open it at this time.
Ask anyone wishing to speak to the siding to come up to the podium.
Seeing no one coming forward. How about our virtual audience? Pamela.
If there's anyone in our virtual audience who wishes to speak, please indicate, by pressing the raise hand button at the bottom of your screen.
There is no one in our virtual audience who wishes to speak.
Thank you. I'll close the public hearing at this time.
And open it up for discussion and action by city council.
Move, to adopt the ordnance, and publish to title only.
What second?
Motion by Councillor Butler.
Second by Councillor Hall.
Just.
Photo finish. I think a roll call vote, please.
Councilmember, beller.
Councilmember dibi. Aye.
Mayor podem Hall. Aye.
Councilmember.
Councilmember Olson.
Councilmember Mcdonald. Aye.
Mayor gates, I. Motion carries 7 0.
Item 19 is a public hearing, a second reading of an ordinance submitting to the registered electors of the city of Greeley at the November 5, th 2,024 coordinated municipal election.
A question regarding an amendment to Part one Article 5 of the Municipal Chartered regarding financial operations.
Welcome. Miss Rosetta, our city attorney.
And Miss Porter, our deputy Chief deputy City manager, chief financial officer. Good evening, ladies.
Good evening, Mayor and Members Council.
I'm going to do the bulk of the presentation tonight regarding the proposed ballot measure about financial.
That's because the city attorney's office has been involved in recommending these charter changes.
But Miss Porter is available to answer any questions, particularly about financial operations for the city.
So I will just go over the background about why this change is being proposed. Identify what our current charter says.
Review the proposed ballot question, and then the proposed charter language.
As you know, the city of Greeley operates under the Council manager form of government.
And you can see this language and this authority throughout the charter and the code. There's references to this authority which includes provisions which give the city manager the authority over administration of the city's affairs.
In January. You probably recall that Debbie Reid provided an update and an overview to City Council about changes to the finance department.
Those changes included the addition of the chief financial officer position.
And also separation of the budget operations from the umbrella of the finance department.
At the time of that presentation Ms. Did talk with Council and inform that city management was still continuing to work with the city attorney's office.
To ensure alignment of the proposed changes with the city's charter and code, and throughout the year we have been dug before me, and now me have been working with Raymond and his staff.
To discuss this issue and identify the appropriate way to move forward.
So background about the Finance department. The Finance Department has historically been overseen by a finance director, although that.
Hasn't.
Always been the case. The finance director has in the past also been.
Served in dual capacities as a finance director and a deputy city manager, and that.
Was done in the past, for the same reason that that changes have been.
Proposed at this point, and that's just due to the growth of the city and changing needs of the city organization.
So the finance department has overseen, typically overseen the functions, including taxation, financial operations and also procurement and budget.
City manager in determining the to create that chief financial officer position.
Similar to what was done in the past with regard to the Deputy City manager, has determined that.
It's now time to separate budget operations and procurement operations from the finance department.
And let
Alina and Raymond speak to that specifically, but just based on the growth of the city and some of the needs that the city has. Now, the city manager has determined that that's necessary to ensure appropriate functioning of the city, and and just be able to address the needs of a growing city.
Next slide, please.
The current charter is set. Current language is set out in the slide, and I won't read it specifically. But there is an article article 5, that is titled.
Department of Finance, and that is somewhat unique to the city of Greely. I've looked at other.
Charters for several other Colorado cities.
Some charters do identify names of specific.
Departments and positions. But most charters address just the functions and operations. Instead of addressing titles specifically.
Boulder and Fort Collins both do have a financial officer in their charter. But it's broad enough to allow that authority to the city manager to determine who to appoint those as the financial off officer.
Most charters that I've reviewed procurement in the chartering.
So our charter is unique in that. It's rather specific in mentioning the finance department. And then, although it doesn't require purchasing and budget to be.
Overseen by the Finance Department.
The Charter itself lists, procurement and budget. Under the caption of Finance Department.
Next slide.
So in reviewing the needs of the city and the desires of the city manager in terms of adjusting to the growth. We have determined that the best.
Option is to propose a ballot question.
To appear on the November to Rename.
In Article 5 instead of department of finance, it would say, administration.
Or it would say, financial operations. And then, instead of finance, the charter just now says the word finance, that it would say administration.
And then throughout the chart, that section of the charter, the term Director of Finance would be replaced with the term financial officer.
Next slide.
If a majority of citizens voted yes, on this ballot question the charter would be changed. Those specific changes are laid out in the ordinance itself, but generally, as I said, the article would be renamed, and then throughout.
The article. The term director finance will be changed to financial officer.
One example is.
The financial officer would still be the ex officio city treasurer. But it would be the financial officer instead of specifically the director of finance, that financial officer would still require the advice and consent of city Council for the appointment.
And then, based on the city's needs, the city manager would have the authority to appoint the financial officer.
Next slide.
So changes to the charter obviously have not been made are not made lightly, but there have been changes to the charter, and those are always approved by.
The citizens.
In reviewing the charter, I did note that the synopsis.
Does.
Indicate that the framer or the Charter Commission.
Contemplated.
Growth of the city in setting forth the charter.
And contemplated that changes could be made or need to be made.
To the charter over time. A couple of examples is at the time the charter was.
Originally approved. There were only 3 wards, and also at that time the city didn't allow the sale of alcohol beverages within the city.
So those are just a couple of examples of charter changes that have been made over the years.
So just again. I have met, and Doug before me did meet with Raymond and his staff over the past.
This year to identify these changes.
And determined that these were the best way to ensure effective governance of financial operations in a manner that allows the city manager to implement best practices for our growing communities.
And with that I'llena and I are both happy to answer any questions you might have.
Questions of staff, council.
Councillor Butler, please thank you, Mayor. So I have gone back and forth on this, and whether we need to do this, I had a conversation with our city attorney this afternoon.
It just seems.
I know that we're gonna get a lot of questions.
But why do we need to pass this? I wish.
Right now I could ask you, what's the 30 second pitch for a voter that calls me, and says, Why do we need to pass this.
Housekeeping seems to be the most reasonable response.
Right.
Direct.
If you could give a 30 second pitch in support of a balanced. My 30 second pitch is just that we always want to make sure that our charter is keeping up with the times, keeping up with the growth of the city, and also our charter is the law of the land for the city. And so we wanna make sure that the changes that that we wanna make in terms of administration and governance with the city.
Both meet the needs of the citizens and comply with the law.
Councillor Dubie. Please.
Okay.
Additional questions, counsel.
Seeing no additional questions. This is also a public hearing.
I'll open a public hearing at this time, and ask anyone wishing to speak to this item to come forward. Mr.
Make this short. My name is D. Keats in Greeley for the record. There's a lot of.
Well, there's a government entities that have departments like.
The Fairs Department of Defense, or even the State, have departments.
E, either at the beginning.
Of the department or at the end. I don't think I think we need to keep.
Because people related to departments.
You know. Like say, for example, you bus department, or your finance department, or.
Whatever else. I I think we need to not put on the ballot, and we need to keep it as a department. Thank you.
Anybody else in the chambers. Mr. Gourd.
Amazing how much money we've spent so far tonight.
Millions of dollars.
Anytime you split it. Apartment. My question is, do we hire new people for that new department? So how much is that going to increase the public taxes, to to have a new department.
When we do developed, it's a department today, and we work very well. It's like, well, we're gonna hire a couple more people. And then all of a sudden, you look around. Those couple of people aren't doing diddly.
Because we got 4 people man job.
That's anytime a government splits the department. That's what usually comes out of a waste of time.
The efficient way of the department goes down.
And the public still doesn't get the good service. So I don't think we need to split departments. Keep the whole way.
Thank you. Bill.
Anybody else in the chambers.
Seeing no one come forward. How about our virtual audience, Pamela.
If there is anyone in our virtual audience who wishes to speak, please indicate, by pressing the raise hand at the bottom of your screen.
There is no one in our virtual audience who wishes to speak.
Thank you. Close the public hearing this time.
Entertain discussion and action by city council.
I thought Johnny was pushing the button down there. I moved to adaptor's reference title only second.
Elsewhere. But we're on the motion. Councillor Olson, on the second.
Roll, call, vote, please.
Councilmember, butler.
Councilmember, debut.
Mayor, pro tem. Hall.
Councilmember, Payne.
Councilmember Olson.
Councilmember Mcdonald. Aye.
Mayor Gates.
Aye, motion carries 7 0.
Item 20 is a public hearing and second reading of an ordinance, amending sections 6, 2, 9, 6, 4, 22, 6, 4, 4, 5, 6, 4, 4, 6.
6, 4, 7, 7.
6, 4, 8, 1, 20.
Dash 1, 5, 1 and 21, 5, 2, with a group of municipal code.
Miss Soria, welcome back.
Your honor.
This item is related to, and is a companion piece to the last item, and this.
Item recommends.
Changes to the municipal code regarding financial operations. I will handle the presentation again. But again, Alina is available to answer any questions.
I'll again review the background for this item, the proposed amendments to the municipal code, and then available.
To answer any questions.
I won't go over all of this again. But the general background on this item is is again related to.
The need to modernize the code.
To ensure that the city manager is able to set up his departments in a manner that is in the best interest of the citizens.
Next slide, please.
The proposed amendments will clarify and correct chapters overseen by the.
Director finance, and it will give it will generally, to the city manager.
Specific duties in, instead of having those delegated to the finance director. It will give the city manager that discretion to assign the duties.
As he determines in the best interest of the city. This is very similar to other places in our code, where the city manager has is given duties, that then he delegates to other departments or staff members.
There's also some outdated language in the code which requires that utility bills be paid at the office of the Director of Finance in City Hall, and whenever we spot that that kind of outdated language we train.
Fix it. So that's 1 of the other changes that we're making or proposing to be made with this ordinance.
And with that I'm happy to answer any questions, and Alina, as well.
Questions of our city attorney.
Councilor Peet. Not really a question, but, Stacy, I'd also note that one of the other changes that you're making is expanding.
From just the chapter.
To the code. It's in its entirety.
Which.
Just. And this isn't a criticism. It's that it's that the need to be able to respond.
Other elements of the code, not just.
The Director of Finance Chapter. So.
Beats.
More beneficial than just the.
Aesthetics of the name changes.
Additional questions or comments for staff.
Seeing none.
This is also a public hearing. I open it this time, and ask anyone wishing to speak to this item, to come forward and do so. Please.
Seeing no one come forward. Pamela, I'd like to check on our virtual audience.
If there's anyone in our virtual audience who wishes to speak, please indicate, by pressing the raise hand button at the bottom of your screen.
There is no one in our virtual audience who wishes to speak.
Thank you.
I will close the public hearing and entertain discussion from city council.
Move to adopt the ordinance and publish title only.
Councillor Hall and the motion Councillor Mcdonald on the second roll call, vote, please.
Councilmember. Butler. Aye.
Councilmember Davis.
Mayor, pro tem. Hall.
Councilmember Payton. Aye.
Councilmember Olson.
Councilmember Mcdonald. Aye.
Mayor Gates.
Aye, motion carries 7 0.
Item 21 is a public hearing and second reading of an ordinance submitting to the registered electors of the city of Greeley.
At the coordinated election to be held November 1, st 2,024. The question of authorizing the City Council to extend the current sales tax on food.
Caitlin Myers, good evening.
Evening, Mayor, members of Council. I'm happy to be before you this evening to bring forward the second reading of the Ordinance, which would put the food tax renewal on the ballot.
So this evening the agenda will include just an overview of the process to this point. We've been before you many times on this item. Well.
Do a brief overview of the food tax renewal. And then the purpose, of course, is the public hearing and determination of.
Approval on the ordinance.
Next slide.
So this project and timeline slides should be very familiar. This engagement has been ongoing since last year, the fall of 2023, when finance staff started to do preparations for the November 2024 ballot. There have been a few items before you for consideration throughout the winter and spring.
We did some public opinion, polling and outreach, some focus group work, and then a second public opinion poll.
In June.
I've listed on the slide here just a number of work sessions that we've had on these topics.
That brings us to this evening, which is the second reading for the food text renewal, and then also the next item which is related to the transportation dead. Item.
So just briefly, this ordinance would set the language that voters will see on their November relating to the Food tax renewal a couple of key points. This is renewal of the city.
3% sales tax on food for home consumption, which was originally put in place in 1 90 and has been renewed every 5 years since then. The current food tax is set to expire at the end of 2026. So we're coming before you in advance to a renew this revenue source.
A key change here is that this would be a permanent extension. The food tax. So, as I mentioned, the food taxes had the 5 year sunset. Traditionally, no, on the permanent extension that has to do with the proposed plan for the food tax to be the repayment source for the transportation debt issuance. Again. That is the next item on the agenda.
But that would be a.
You know, 35 to 50 year loan repayment? So we couldn't have a sunsetting revenue source to repay that loan.
I also wanted to note the food tax rebate program which you heard about earlier this evening, and an informational update remains. In effect. It's really separate from this item via separate ordinance.
Next slide, please.
This is just for informational purposes.
On items that the food tax has funded and is planned to fund based on the currently adopted. So the food tax which generates approximately 11 million dollars annually is predominantly used for capital, maintenance and construction. It's it's a large source for improvements to the city's facilities.
Such as the building we're in right now. All the way from the fun plucks the ice house, Hvacs, those types of maintenance.
Projects. And then it also goes towards park improvements, irrigation systems, playground maintenance, traffic, safety improvements, etc. So there's more detail here on the slide.
Next slide.
This slide just is a simple overview of the language itself. So apart from the extension this is.
Pretty much exactly what voters have been used to seeing in the past.
So no big changes there otherwise. And then, yeah, very simply. Staff recommends approval of the ordinance submitting to voters the question.
Of whether to extend the food text.
And with that.
Entertainment, questions.
Thank you, Kim. Questions of Miss Myers, please. Councillor Olson.
So I should ask this on the last.
The the rebate.
Presentation. But I'm gonna ask it now.
Because it's in here, he said. Food on slide 4.
Rebate program remains effective operations. We talked about that.
How does the snap program affect it? Do snap!
The snap program that people are eligible for this rebate. If they're on the snap program.
So I believe so I think that leap and snap probably similar income requirements. But I can't say 100% sure. We could certainly get the answer to that for you. I can look it up. It doesn't apply to all foods, either.
Right.
But if people are on the snap program, can they apply for a rebate program? That's what I'm mainly, yes, absolutely. There's no limitation on other forms of assistance. Yep.
Absolutely.
Councillor Butler. Please.
Thank you. Mayor.
So just since it sounds like we're gonna have a few people speak after this. In the next section is gonna be talking about.
The debt issuance that we're looking at doing? Just so, people know that is currently for 34.
Intersections between on 35th and 47.th
And it would also be eligible for additional projects if we were to get.
Other grants. Things like that correct.
Correct. Just so. People have the full picture before people come up and start talking.
Yeah, absolutely. We'll cover that in the next item, the transportation. Yep.
Absolutely.
Any additional questions of Ms.
Thank you.
Okay, seeing none. This is a public hearing as well. I'll open a public hearing at this time.
Ask anyone wishing to speak.
To would limit their comments to 3 min. Give us your name and city for the record. I welcome a number of people that have signed up for this item. I'll just read off the list, and then, if there are others happy to take you at that time.
Start with sherry.
Should have given you some advanced notice.
I apologize for being my 1st real venture out since my knee replacement, so I apologize. 2 of us up here have been there.
3 of us up here. Sorry.
So I ask a little bit of
Whatever the word is I'm looking for that's not coming off the top of my mind. I probably could have divided this out into.
Earlier comment that what I wanted to say really kind of connects. So if you'll give me a little bit of leeway with the 3 min time. I won't go much over. I apologize.
There's a big change to the food tax, and I just heard her say, there's really no changes.
The changes prior to this.
This question. We have asked the voters every 5 years whether or not to renew this.
I've never supported a food tax. I'm really having a hard time supporting this one.
Because this one not only does 5 years. This does a never ending cycle.
Unless the voters say we don't want this anymore.
We know what the odds of that are.
The second part of that is this is tied to.
Traffic changes on us. 34 and at 35th Avenue and 47.
In 2018 2019, I sat on an advisory board for this Council, looking at whether or not we should renew the quality of life taxes.
And at that time there was a lot of hoopla over this building, and a proposed second building.
And one of the things that we asked this Council to do is to promise us that those quality of life taxes would not be used for City Center Phase 2.
To date. You have not done that. Thank you.
The other problem is, when I look at the city's website.
There is a comment or a page on there that talks about the quality of life taxes that we.
Back in 2,018 that we also extended for 20 years. And I was even okay with that one at that time.
But it says that the money for quality of life, that's point 3%.
The very 1st thing that it says on your website.
Is 2 significant changes in the city.
Along us. Highway 34.
Where's that money?
4 or 5 years ago.
We agreed to extend that tax.
For the very same thing that you are now asking us to extend a tax, an indefinite yearly tax.
To tie to those same 2 intersections.
I want those intersections built as badly as the rest of you. That is why I supported that quality of tax.
But I'm really struggling, putting.
Another tax, a regressive tax that I've never supported, and I struggle to support in any community.
On the backs of people that can't afford to put food on their table already.
And not only are we not gonna come back in 5 years and ask our voters to to re up and make sure you do what you what you say you're gonna do.
But we're going to do it after we've already promised we would do it with yet a different tax.
So I'm really concerned at how this is going.
This tax doesn't expire until 2026.
Under Tabor on your elections can only be Tabor.
Questions.
This question can go before voters in 25 expired.
I would much prefer that you look at a separate tax.
To build these interchanges than a food tax, and I apologize. Anybody wants any more from me. I'll be available.
Thanks.
Make sure. You know you made.
You made 1 point that that absolutely needs to be explained, and that's the money that the.
City collected from the 2019 increase.
That money's safeway in the bank.
2 things have happened.
One is
I'm not going to name the agency.
But a State agency left us holding the bag.
I cannot be any more blunt than that.
And secondly.
The cost of those intersections, unfortunately, has increased exponentially since 2019. So.
Please know that we do have a.
Pretty large bucket of money.
That will.
Definitely go a long ways towards those intersections, but.
Based on the what I believe is the inactivity of the State agency.
Guess who it's on now. It's on us so great point. I appreciate you bringing it up.
Tom Donkeys.
Good evening, Tom.
Tom Donkel, City of Greeley, resident since 1986.
I did leave for a little while. I won't tell you where I went to work.
Of somebody that bought a lot of water up here.
North of town.
But I am extremely excited to be here tonight, and to be.
A citizen of greatly.
This is probably the most exciting time.
For for Greeley since I've been here, and I really appreciate the vision of the Mayor, City council and staff.
To what they're bringing to the community, whether it's downtown.
The vision for the airport. 8th Avenue, 16th Street improvements.
83rd Avenue improvements in the West Side project.
It's all very dynamic and very exciting for Greeley.
I'm happy to be here today. I'm with the citizens for driving.
To support the ballot initiative.
And I'm just real quickly gonna talk about
The the sales, tax.
We all agree. We get taxed a lot. But the important thing is.
That the the holders of the taxes are fulfilling their fiduciary duty to the citizens. And, John, I'm thankful for you to be able to answer that question so quickly.
About the having the money in the bank.
That sherry brought. That's very important to know that that money is sitting there and allocated and ready to go for these projects. So thank you.
For staff, and counsel, for, for.
Safeguarding that money, as we promised our citizens that we would do so. Thank you for that.
The the food tax is such an important tool for the city.
Not only for funding, but it funds so many other things.
That we take for granted whether it's the recreational amenities that we all use.
Increasing access.
To community facilities for people with disabilities maintaining those facilities.
Building parks.
It's so vitally important to everything that we do, and.
And one thing is our neighbor to the
To the West did their food tax, and they are.
Absolutely scrambling right now to figure out how to fulfill.
Their duties to their citizens and.
I don't want really to be put in that position. So it's very important that we work together as a community.
To get the information out.
So our citizens understand how this money will be used in the future.
It is
You know, extending the food tax is a tough thing, but it's it's gonna be used for the right things. In addition to funding.
And creating an avenue of repayment for the tiff alone.
So thank you for that, and I will come up and talk about some anecdotal stuff with the the intersections that I've experienced recently. So thank you very much.
Thank you. Tom.
Mike Dickerson, please.
Good evening, Mike.
My name is Michael Dickerson. I'm a Greeley residence. Since 2021 I moved over here from Fort Collins.
We'll just start off with a little bit of that.
I came over here from Fort Collins.
Because I'd always been told really. Well, county.
Well, taxes are lower, things are cheaper.
So imagine my surprise when I started learning about this 3% food tax.
Now food.
Even according to Maslow, I.
Councilman Hollada read my email. I sent him on Friday afternoon.
Is one of the pinnacles of the basics of the basic needs. It's not something we can avoid.
Unless we want to die.
And for 34 years the city's been taxing us on it.
That's just not right.
That's not right, that the city is taxed. I understand that the city has needs. I understand that we have needs for the roads they need to be repaired, and stuff like that, but especially given inflation over the last several years.
And.
That food itself.
The cost of groceries has gone up 20% in the last 3 years.
And then you're adding the tax on it, and the city now wants to make it permanent.
Now, as I understand it.
This counsel.
Is very fiscally responsible, and we, as citizens, appreciate that. But that's no guarantee that future councils.
And future city government is going to be as fiscally responsible.
Making this tax permanent is unacceptable.
And right now.
We as citizens, we're all having to do more with less.
So I think this.
Warden that should be.
Allowed to sunset, for now, until we can come back at a later date until things improve financially.
And for now the city's just gonna have to do more with less, like we, the citizens are having to do.
I guess that's what we're doing.
We're eating a lot of spaghetti, a lot of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
And.
That's for those of us that are.
Fully employed. What about those that.
That don't quite qualify for snap or leap.
And are just riding the edge, and they're having to pay an extra several $100 a year in food tax.
And yes, I know we have the. We have the tax rebate program, but frankly, $500,000 on.
11 million dollars collected. It's almost kind of insulting to me.
But maybe that's just me.
I think we should allow it to sunset.
You, Mike.
Sadie Simpson, please.
Good evening, Sadie.
Afternoon. My name is Sadie Simpson. I am a member of a resident of unincorporated near Plattville, so I'm here to speak on behalf of all the families who live rurally.
Sorry I'm setting my timer.
And we a lot of us commute 2040 min to Greeley in order to get groceries for our family. So.
As you can imagine, it's increasing our costs with fuel as well.
I have 3 children, and 2 of them are preteen boys, so you can imagine my grocery bill is very high. 3% does make a difference in many families who are middle class. Just like you. Mr. Gates had addressed the intersection.
Costing more groceries have also increased significantly for many middle class families. And it. It's a struggle. I, as a citizen, when I have had the means, have grown a lot of food with my children, and contributed to the wealth, county food, bank churches, and even foster families in our community that are fostering wealth. County
Children.
But you know things change and.
I don't always have the means, but I do think the private sector does a great job in helping families in need in our community.
Food has been on my radar, and a big passion of mine for well over a decade, and.
I think most of us know not, all considered equal. So food can give us disease, but it can also prevent disease. And when families are
Faced with financial burdens.
They have to choose between a fresh, healthy calorie for their family, or something that's shelf stable that may contain chemicals.
Found in toilet cleaner. So unfortunately, that's the food industry. And that 3% does make a difference. So I just wanted to encourage the Council to reconsider that also, during the Great Depression, a lot of entrepreneurs
Were birthed from the struggle of that time. So I think that there's so much new technology, innovation and brilliant minds out there who can come up with different ways to fix the roads and beautify our parks. And yep, that's all I have for today. So thank you very much.
Brandon. I believe it's work.
Hopefully. I got that right, Brandon.
The last name that is.
Yes, thank you, Mayor, and thank you. Counsel for your time and attention this evening. You know I think we can all agree is a great place to live right? I mean, we got some people.
Talking about what a wonderful place it is! A lot of people who moved here from other parts of the State, because it's so great, and I think one of the reasons is because it's affordable.
You know, you look at houses down closer to Denver, a lot of these other areas. It's very, very hard to find a place to live.
Really really has a lot going for it. And a lot of it is that affordability. We've actually seen a recent poll showing that 51% of Coloradans are considering moving out of state or moving out of the area. They live because of the high cost of living.
Consistently across different polls. We see that the cost of housing, the cost of living, affordability and economic issues in general are going to be one of the biggest driving issues. This election.
I think really voters.
We'll probably vote to get rid of the food tax. If it's presented to them. We can save them some time, some effort and energy by letting it sunset.
You know, call ends are struggling. We see evictions, homelessness, skyrocketing. In Denver, the highest levels that's ever been.
And we don't want that to happen here.
Then Colorado has been ranked. One of the least affordable states out there, and there's something we can do. We can do it in our own community to help people afford to stay in their homes, to.
To keep living the life they want.
You know, we've seen that Greeley had an 80% increase in the rebate program.
From earlier tonight and.
It just goes to show there's demand for relief for people wanting to save money on their bills.
You know. I don't know about you, but I'm a big fan of digital coupons. You go to Safeway or King's anywhere around. Well, it's ending. This 3% tax is gonna be a permanent digital coupon here for people agreely. And I think that's a message that's really gonna carry forward, particularly because we saw what happened in love. And last year I mean off your election when turnout wasn't that great? 66% of level, one voters.
Rejected their food tax. Sure, there's been some trade offs. There's always going to be trade offs in any economic calculation, in any vote, any government decision. But nonetheless, a trade off that's gonna help benefit everybody in the community, gonna provide a higher level.
Of living, better standard of living. That's when the top issues, I mean, the food tax can always come back. Taxes can always be increased at a later time. Right now.
You have an opportunity on the Council to be leaders of the community to stand up for the people.
To let this sunset and actually be ahead of the curve and.
When the voters pat.
And the voters get rid of the food tax in November, you can say, Well, hey, I was there in August, and I voted to stop it at that point, or you can vote to extend the food tax. Get it on the ballot and have to explain to the voters that, hey? You know, I know the voters are rejecting this. They're struggling with their bills. But nonetheless.
I wanted to pass that tax on to you.
So really appreciate your time.
You know, I think inflation is strangling the savings of seniors.
Families are failing to make ends meet.
So I ask you, please vote to end the food tax.
It'll fail in November, and we can stop it now and save us some time. So thank you.
Thank you. Brandon.
Natalie Menton, please.
Good evening, Natalie.
Good evening, Council Natalie. I am here, and I'll let you know. I drove.
By the end of the night I'll have driven over a hundred miles to come to you and deliver this message to you.
And that means that I find it very important to look you in the eye and be able to share this.
Repealing the food tax. Letting the sunset expire is the right thing to do.
I live down in Lakewood, and we're one of the cities that did repeal the grocery tax.
It took a citizen.
Movement which I was part of, along with others, to be able to show the city council.
The way that the rotors really want to be treated in regards to taxing their food.
And, as was stated before, there is an overwhelming amount of residents and voters who do not believe.
Taxing groceries. Food for home consumption is even.
Moral.
It's a really strong sentiment. It goes across party lines. So I would encourage a city council with. Now the sunset presented as an opportunity to do the very best thing, the very fair thing, the very efficient thing.
And that is to let the sunset expire and create a less bureaucratic.
Way of putting more food on people's tables. The rebate. I'm glad you presented it before this part of the meeting.
It illustrated that it's a lot of legwork and paperwork. I can say what are different.
It is. I followed this for a long time. If an apple juice is below a certain juice, content.
It's considered junk food.
It's texted for pop, right? Oh, rate.
If apple juice is above, a certain amount of content is taxed as a food for home consumption.
It. It's a bizarre part of law, and it's complicated. It's not good for merchants. It's not good for the consumers. It's not good for families. Repealing a food tax is worth a week or 2 weeks worth of groceries.
A week or 2 weeks.
People need that.
They don't need a bureaucratic process where they go through a rebate program.
Think of it even beyond this.
Repealing the grocery tax on food for home consumption, which is that head of lettuce that tomatoes out of the produce department. The cucumber.
That's taxed, and that's not acceptable as it is. But if somebody in between their 2 jobs to get a prepared salad.
Or a subway sandwich.
Even a healthy one, I bet you. Let's say.
And he's gonna eat that in between their 2 jobs while they that they're they're
There are 2 jobs, make ends meet. They pull, pay full tax rate.
We need to start with repealing the grocery tax.
And then start by repealing the tax on food for immediate consumption both. Thank you so much. I hope you take this opportunity.
Thank you for making the drive to chat with us. Natalie.
That exhausts the list that I have. That being said, Yeah, there's a couple that have already spoken on the open Forum. You're welcome to come back up. Bill Gillard.
And Bill Gillard.
1, 4, 1, 50. Am your court really.
When you say you're gonna extend.
The current sales tax. Why didn't you just put in there? You're gonna make it permanent.
Instead of saying, we're going to extend it, you're not going to extend it. I don't like the word sunset, because the way you overlap the voting. That's tax. And that new one starts. So it's it stops. It doesn't sunset.
How much is the whole project between the hub.
And the 2
Interchanges.
And redoing 8th Avenue gonna cost you? Do you have a budget? I have yet to see a budget. What it is we got? We want to get a loan for 65 million. We probably have 2530,000,000 hopefully drawn enters in a bank.
It's about 95 million, say 95 million. That project with those 2 interchanges.
Do you have a solid budget, or we just got an estimate that what it's gonna be.
The more time you wait the more it's gonna cost. And the other thing is, the food tax reminds about what. Let me see.
We call it the Income Tax.
Federal Income tax.
That's what you guys want is a tax to just keep on trucking. And then when you need more money, we're gonna come in for a raise on the tax.
You guys are starting to be.
What this Council wasn't used to. A Conservative used to be tight on the money.
You split a department. Now, you gotta hire another person for that department. Let's get back to what.
I'm sorry. Well, the Republicans stand for Conservative to save money, not spend money.
You got 65 million, and you don't even know. Can't even tell me what the whole budget is for that.
Transportation, the 8th Avenue that you've already improved and put Islands down the middle. Now you're going. What are you gonna do with them?
For safety paramount. And again, we're gonna spend more money after bad money.
So no extension.
Let it sunset.
And I'm gonna come back to it.
When you need it.
This.
Permanent, tax.
Is.
Not feasible for anybody in this county.
Thank you.
Thank you, Bill. Steve, please.
And my name is Steve Keats. Really. I got here a 3 page.
Tax.
I met somebody, and we were talking about taxes in government. Ask them, do me a favor. So they got.
3 4 pages of it.
And what people.
And I can't go through the list. It takes me more than 3 min.
But the thing is tax tax, that's all we tax, and yet we don't.
We don't have a good bus system, our infrastructure. We have 2 road. We have one road tax and then and then we have the food tax pays for the roads, too, and our roads are worse than when I 1st got here in 1986.
And a was, and the community still was complaining about that.
Also too.
So I'm against it.
And.
We have all kinds of taxes, and also was mentioning the quality of life package.
Why don't we use the quality of life package for the to.
Do the roads of transportation or.
By various other things that is needed may be help.
Infrastructure and things like that. Why don't we change it?
For that, and then and what to rotate. I mean, the food tax is taken. We could put in some other places, too, as well.
Because we get enough. And it's priorities.
Where is the quality? Here?
The quality of life for a lot of people I'm seeing. And I've been here since 1986. Also.
It. It is gone down, and we have more and more homeless people.
When I 1st got here we didn't have. We had a little homeless people, but all of around.
And so what are we going to do.
And definitely, we need a sunset. You always need a sunset.
And because otherwise people won't go for it. And you're asking for 2 taxes. 2 taxes won't work in 2,007. Then that city council asked for it were owed tax and a bus tax, and both of them failed.
And and the bus tax was 40%.
Of the boat, and I came back to city council, the voting, and asked him clip back on the ballot.
And the bus tax, and the next year, and they said no.
But the thing is the food tax, and I, you know, used to pass out the information for the 6 years, and I was for it.
And I'm not for it anymore, because of the prices of food and other things. And yes, it put hardship on individuals as well as family. Thank you.
Thanks, Steve.
Anybody else in the chambers that has not already spoken to this item that would like to welcome you forward at this time.
See no one coming forward. I'd like to ask about our virtual audience. Please.
If there was anyone in our virtual audience who wishes to speak, please indicate, by pressing the raise hand button at the bottom of your screen.
We do have one person who would like to talk. I'm going to allow Julie Jensen to speak. Very good.
Thank you. Counsel appreciate it. My name is Julie Jensen. I'm a citizen of Greeley, and have been for about 30 plus years.
I am speaking out actually in support of both of these ballot issues.
Of.
I feel like.
Our city has done a great job with the money that they have raised from these taxes over the last 30 plus years.
I look around at the city that's growing.
These interchanges are.
In integral into what we need in order to get around safely in our city for people to get to the places they need.
I understand, and absolutely lament with people on the cost of things.
But in my head when I think it's $3 on a hundred dollars for me.
But I'm getting services, so many services from the city of Greeley and people that I know I sit on the road.
That center has grown so much, and the kiddos that it helps.
I am willing to help.
To support that. And again, I think our city has done a phenomenal job.
With those funds.
And I trust that they will continue to do that, and therefore I do support this.
I.
Do get bothered when people from other places that don't live here.
Come in and and speak out against it, because again I your dollars aren't in my city, whereas mine are.
So.
I do appreciate everybody's thoughts. I do appreciate everybody's passion to it. But again I appreciate counsel giving us the opportunity to take a look at these valid issues, I am in full support of it, and I.
Do support our city and council in what they've used these funds for, and trust that they will do the same. Going forward.
Thank you.
Thank you for phoning in Miss Jensen. Anybody else, Pamela.
We do also have liberty. Mantos, who would like to speak. She is now being allowed to talk and address council.
Yes, ma'am, go right ahead.
Thank you. Counsel. My name is Liberty, Montes, and I'm currently in Millikan. I'm a realtor with remax alliance and Greely, and I've been in business for 11 years. I lived in Greeley from 2,004 until 2,019, and I still continue to do a large part of my business in Greely.
I do volunteer with local nonprofits as well as being a single mother of 2 kids who are teenagers and now currently driving themselves.
I am also in support of both of these Bella issues for numerous reasons, but a couple bigger ones are the need for the renovation of the interchanges at 35th Avenue and Highway 34, and 47th Avenue and Highway 34. I drive my clients around constantly, and as I mentioned. My children are now both driving around, and these intersections just continue to get more and more congested, which in turn.
Causes more safety issues for so many in our community. And then all of the facilities that the past has helped maintain that brings an amazing quality of life to the citizens of Greeley and the surrounding areas. My kits have enjoyed time at several different city wreck buildings and parks over the years, as well as many of my clients and their families.
Again, even as a single mother. I've always felt this food tax revenue was used in such a way that enhanced our city and therefore made it a great place for my family and friends to live, but also for my clients who chose Greely for their long-term homes. I fully support this Bella issue, since it's not a new tax and obtaining the Low Cost loan will also help to build out those much-needed interchanges making our travels throughout the city, safer and easier.
Thank you for your time.
Thank you for taking the time to call in Miss Montes.
Anybody. Additional Pamela.
Do you have one more additional person who would like to talk? I am now allowing Karen Placentia to speak to council.
Thank you. Counsel. My name is Karen Placentia.
And I am the Coo of Sears real estate, and I've lived in Gurley since 1,989.
My husband. I have raised our family here, and I have been part of the business community for over 20 years.
And I am so proud to call Greeley home.
I fully support the 2 proposed issues, as I feel that not only will they continue to make our city shine, but they will also help with the population growth that seems to be in a rise in our city.
So I know that everyone, the officials that we have at city Council they work really hard to maintain our roads and quality of life, and.
We all enjoy the quality of life that we have here. So.
We wanna make sure that we have the vote to support the food tax.
It is not an additional tax, but it's a permanent extension. So I'm for.
Having these 2 ballot issues proposed, and I fully support them. So that way we can continue to grow our city and continue to thrive.
So thank you for your time.
Thank you, Ms. Picentia, for taking the time to call in this evening. There is no one else in our virtual audience.
Say again, Tommy.
What were you?
Apparently not.
That.
Close the public hearing at this time, and believe we're gonna have some discussion before a motion. But I'll leave that up to you. Counsel.
Councillor Butler, please thank you. Mayor. I just wanted to kind of talk through my thinking on how I'm gonna be voting this evening.
It was mentioned a little bit.
Actually, I'm gonna steal something that Bill said.
You wait more expensive. Something gets.
We have been waiting on the interchanges that
35, th and 47.th
For far too long. We owe it to our citizens to actually get that done.
They are some of the most dangerous intersections in our State, not just our community.
Cbat should do their job. I don't have to be nearly as diplomatic as the mayor. They should bring their share along, but it does not look like they're going to. We have worked hard for the last several years to try to get them to do that.
We are gonna be the adults in the room. We are gonna help our community pay for the thing that they have said that they wantedly.
To do that, we need a long-term funding source. That's 1 of the reasons why we're taking the extension off.
If it was up to me I wouldn't probably remove the extension. It loses a couple of percent. When we look at polling.
But it is something we.
Essentially have to do to be able to do this big giant thing for our community.
They've asked us to do it. And I would like to point out that we are not raising anyone's taxes. We are simply asking the voters.
As pursuant to Tabor, if they would like to keep their taxes where they are.
I think that is the responsible thing to do. I know that I am.
Very much more to the left of the rest of my colleagues. But this is something that I think has bipartisan appeal. And is the again, the responsible thing to do.
Thank you, Tommy. Councillor Olson.
So.
You know I appreciate everybody's comments tonight, and I agree there is. We are struggling, has went up.
And it's hard to look at.
Putting, continuing an existing tax. As Tommy said.
On people that are struggling. I do believe the rebate program.
Sets us aside from everybody else.
That's done this.
I really do believe that people can step up.
You spend $10,000 a year, you get a 300 rebate that basically pays you back for.
That 3% that you put in. If you're struggling.
And you're on a lower income level.
I agree with the comments and support that.
The city has done a really good job.
It supports a lot of things. I mean, you look at the the slide that they presented on Slide 5.
Beautiful beautification of parks.
Which supports everybody in our community.
Accessible buildings. So when we service our communities and our constituents, we're.
Recreational amenities. Our our average age is 31.6.
Everybody has kids. We need to really take care of those kids. We don't want them leaving. We don't. We want them staying in our community.
Arts and Culture.
And then traffic, safety.
I agree with.
Councilmember, Butler, and Mayor Gates.
That our State agency has dropped the ball.
And not really supported us. I will not use their name in.
I was there for 30 years, so it's hard.
But.
We have a responsibility to our community to maintain.
The heritage and the culture that we have now, without asking for a new tax. Neither one of these are increasing taxes.
And we all can agree that 35th and 47th is important, and we do have a budget.
Mr. Guard, we can get you that.
But I'm gonna support this.
Because of what it does, what we lose if we don't do it. What we don't have for our community and our citizens.
And I think that's important. And one of the things that I think is really important.
Is a democratic process to let people vote. If it fails, it fails. If it passes, it passes.
That is what's nice about our. That's what's nice about being in Greeley. We're putting it to the voters.
To say, are you willing to extend this? Yes, it's longer than the 5 years.
But we're letting them choose. We're not up here making that choice. The only choice we're making tonight is, do we want to put it on the ballot?
Councillor Peyton. Please.
Lot of echoing what's already been said. But.
To, to, to go back to 2017.
When I both on council.
We were, and I'm I'm.
It's not in vain.
We were promised that if we would raise our 50% share.
That Cdt. Would come.
Too Greely.
And build those interchanges with us.
We raised our 50% share for each intersection.
At this point. Now C. Dot has turned us down repeatedly.
At this point, now.
What we have is only half of one.
Of those interchanges.
Cot has failed us.
Just say it.
We've gone to the State several times looking for opportunities to fund that. We've gone to the Feds and.
They're they're competitive grant process. They're they're difficult. We haven't been able to achieve.
Those grants, unfortunately, who were stuck.
We do not have the big retail and commercial sinks of tax.
That our neighbors to the West do.
You mentioned Loveland.
I have friends.
Who work in Loveland.
Their budgets are being cut dramatically. Millions of dollars.
As a result.
Of their food tax being overturned. They don't have solutions.
They will begin services.
Next year after their their next year. Budget, if they don't find fixes and counsel over there, has not found fixes.
My office in Fort Collins. We got.
Our bill for our use tax and Fort Collins and Greeley is.
Doing everything we can to be conservative.
Fort Collins is billing me and my business for taking people to lunch, even though I already paid taxes. When I went.
To lunch.
I'm being billed again. A use tax.
For the benefit of going to.
Greenery remains a a.
Fiscally conservative option for folks.
By the same token you get a choice as to where you live and and where you shop.
For all of those.
Reasons. This is something that that we need to do.
Perhaps in the future we'll have those big retail.
Revenue sources.
For the time being. We don't.
This is what we need to get done today.
Thank Councillor Mcdonald. Please.
Thank you, Mayor.
The the obvious is, the interchanges are gonna provide.
Flow of traffic, much better.
But I think what is a highlight of these interchanges is the safety it's gonna provide.
Oftentimes those accidents and those interchanges are often fatal.
This will help that it will help.
Youth.
And individuals who cross highway 34 in a safe manner, that are trying to get the schools and trying to get to other areas of the city.
So that is why I support it. The other part of it is, I'm going to do my best not to get emotional about this.
Is, we're talking about a lot of low income areas and and families and children being affected by that. And I completely understand that.
I understand that because from the time I was 14 I worked for the city of Greeley and the Community outreach program. Those that was a program decide.
For design for children to be able to come in the summer program that couldn't afford. Their parents can't afford a babysitter, and they could come to our program. We did activities with them.
We took him to the swimming pool.
And.
The Rhodes Center provides so many services for family families that it would.
It would be detrimental to those families.
The maintaining our parks in those services.
We we think entertainment as going to the movies or going out to eat for these families. It's oftentimes in the park.
So we need to maintain our parks and make sure those are beautiful, and keeping our services and our recreation.
Facilities affordable to those that can't afford it.
Thank you.
Make a moisture. Councillor Hall, please.
I. The points that make sense to me is that with, we're not raising taxes. This is a tax that's already been there, that people have voted on it for 30 years.
I think we have definitely the need and not just the intersections, but the the need is there.
We have a rebate program for people that are not able to.
Afford.
The cost of the.
Tax itself.
So I think we need to let citizens make a vote and go from there.
Thank you, Dale. Councillor Beauty, please.
Thank you, Mayor. I guess I'll wrap this up. Maybe not.
I support this as well.
I think that the city government has done a great job, being fiscally responsible for 30 years.
We've promised voters how we're gonna use this money wisely and prudently. And we're gonna continue to do that.
I think many of the things that my colleagues have mentioned, what taxes actually pay, and what this tax pays.
Is very relevant. I just want to remind the citizens of this community of the May 28.
Flooding that we had, and what.
Our city facilities have undergone, and the emergency repairs that we've had to make.
We need a funding source to fix that.
And the last thing I'll say is tied to Highway 34, and the interchange is at 35th Avenue.
Not only is it gonna help in safety, but it's gonna help our quality as folks are moving through our city and not sitting through rounds of red lights.
So there's many things that we have to do to respond to the growth.
That we're going through, and we need a funding source. And this is a reliable source. At the Greeley voters voted for 30 years. Let's continue.
Thank you.
Thank you. Deb.
My notes would reflect much of what's been said as well.
I respect and appreciate opposition opinions that you know you hear a lot on the national stage. Now about democracy. Well, this really is democracy.
And.
I don't know how this will go, just because it's been out there for 34 years.
Doesn't mean it's gonna continue.
There's a little background.
City, staff, city, council.
Our community via focus groups and polling that we've done twice. Been working on this for months and.
You know. Watch Watson said, about the fiscal nature this evening, and for those that aren't aware
We've considered 2 other options.
Both of which would have been tax increases.
We opted not to go forward with either one of those.
I will tell you that as a result of that.
Lot of folks very happy.
Namely, those of you in this room.
Many of you in this room, but.
Lots of folks are very unhappy with us.
For not bringing forward.
Open space tax.
And
Increasing the rate on the public Safety tax.
How hard do you think it was for me as a retired police officer, to kick that to the curb? That's what I had to do.
I did. I'm not speaking for my colleagues.
I'm speaking to the.
The the fiscal nature of that for me, that.
I wasn't going to take too items to our voters that did, in fact, involve new taxes. So.
It's been.
Been brought up a number of times.
Is this measure a tax? It is.
It's not a new one. It's a continuation.
And I think the responsible thing for.
Our city council to do.
Is to let our community resolve this, and.
Whatever that result is.
I respect it, and I, guessing my colleagues will as well.
And with that I would entertain a motion.
Look to adopt the ordinance and publish title only.
Councillor Butler. On the motion, Councillor Dubie, on the second.
Roll, call, vote, please.
Councilmember, butler.
Councilmember, Dubie.
Mayor, pro tem. Hall.
Councilmember Peyton. Aye.
Councilmember Olson.
Councilmember Mcdonald. Aye.
Mayor Gates.
Aye, motion carries 7 0.
We do sincerely appreciate the feedback, regardless which side of this issue you're on. And
I know there'd be lots more discussion as we get closer to.
November 5th of 2024.
On that note, we move to item 22.
Which is a public hearing and second reading of an ordinance submitting to the registered electors of the city of Greeley at the coordinated election to be held November 5, th 2,024.
The question of authorizing the city to increase debt by 65 million in order to fund transportation.
Evening again. So I'm back before you with the second
Ordinance that's related to.
Finances for the November elections. This is the transportation debt ordinance, and we'll walk through a similar
Set of slides for this item.
Next slide.
So again, just the timeline review. The transportation has been alongside the food tax renewal since the beginning. As one of the 4 options, as the mayor said. That was before you, in addition to the open space and public safety item. And these were the 2 that have made it to this point.
Next slide.
So just a brief summary of the transportation ordinance. So this ordinance will set the language that voters will see on their November some key points. This item is required.
Based on tabor. Because it is a debt considered a debt issuance. Obligation of the city, and it would be to authorize the city to increase debt by up to 65 million, with a repayment cost of up to 110 million the anticipated financing mechanism. And really the way that we got to the principal and repayment amount.
Is the Federal Transportation, infrastructure, Finance and Innovation Act or Tiffia Loan program. There are some unique aspects of that program that make this a very affordable option in terms of financing, such as the long term nature of it. And that Greeley would qualify for half the
Treasury rate. So an interest rate of.
Between 2 and 3%.
And then, as a reminder, the anticipated repayment source for this debt issuance, would be the food tax.
Next slide, please.
Just an overview of the priority uses for this Federal financing. Largely. Ms has been discussed quite a bit so far this evening. It's the construction of the new highway. 34 interchanges at 35th and 47th Avenue. I'll note the budget for that project which is called merge is around 131 million dollars. This
Debt item is really the last piece of the puzzle to have that project come to fruition. The city has obtained just recently a 20 million dollars. Federal grant for the program. In addition to some other grant dollars. The 30 million dollars that is committed from the quality of life tax is also part of that stack for the project.
So this would really be the final piece to get us to that total budget number.
Some other uses are upgrading. Major transportation always focus on safety, accessibility and travel, ease and then expanding greatly with routes to Denver in the airport that has to do with the mobility, hub aspect of the merge energy interchange, project.
Next slide.
Again. This is the bow language that will appear to voters that just outlines the debt issuance.
Next slide.
And with that staff's recommendation is to prove the ordinance. The question of authorizing the city to increase that by up to 65 million to fund transportation, infrastructure, improvements.
Happy to answer questions.
Let's open up 1st questions of staff.
Thank you, Dale.
See no questions of staff.
This is our final public hearing of the evening.
I opened a public hearing at this time, and ask anyone wishing to come forward to speak to this item, to please do so.
Tom Donkel good evening, again. Sir.
Quite all right.
Donkel City Greeley.
The intersection at.
35th Avenue and 10th Street are at 34 bypass.
Is is a challenge, to say the least. The other morning.
Had gone down to the habitat project to check things out and.
Kinda forgot that the school was in session.
And it was right before 8 o'clock, and I got to this finally got to the signal at 29, th and.
So I'm gonna see how long it takes me to get through this. I got to.
20.th
About 10 min later.
It took me that long to get through that intersection.
We also do live near the area.
And I think I may have a solution.
If Chief Kirk see, he left on me.
Could do some controls out there the racing at night. I think we could generate some revenue.
Plus increase in bus ridership.
In the process those kids out there are getting it after it all hours of the night. So.
But as as part of that, as you know.
And in the presentation staff has had to get very creative on finding.
For these intersections, and I've done a great job in in searching out, and did land the.
The 20 and a half 1 million Grant Rice Grant for the merge project.
And
Finding out and.
Locating the Tiffan. This is something that really has never done in the in the past. They've opened up avenues for funding that we had never considered back when I was at Staff, and as being a citizen here. So it's really great to see that.
The improvements will
Do a lot of different things. It'll.
Increase mobility and we'll create that backbone for our transportation system.
Both the micro transit as well as the best transit, moving forward with great control of that 34 quarter. And that's going to be a great thing.
We'll increase safety at the intersection by 40.
One reduce pollution at both the intersections
That'll have a significant impact will create reliability on travel.
Through those intersections and throughout town. And as Johnny, as you know what we're probably experiences, people are avoiding those intersections and driving other places.
So as we up transportation through those corridors, I think, where we leave congestion and other areas that we don't even know are impacted by these intersections. So.
I'll make it quick. I know we missed the sunset tonight, so hopefully, we'll have some more of the good sunsets and Greeley this week.
But thank you for count. Thank you for your time. Thank you, Tom.
Anybody else in the Chambers wish to address. Item 22.
Mr. Tates, come on up!
You're getting a lot of air time tonight, my friend. Yeah, I'm making up for. But I lost.
Anyway. My name is D. Keats and Greeley. I, I get this 65 million in order to fund transportation. Okay, I'd like to know? There's some of those improvements.
And is it just.
You know, infrastructure? Or is it gonna be the transit transit the bus? Because we are growing growing? And also, too, I've got in the last 2 times I got on the bus when the kids they they over. I mean, it's like pack, meaning like sardines. And you trying to even get on the bus, and you can't, and then they they won't move.
So you or anybody else, and they don't give their seats to the elderly either.
So what is this? Fun? Instead of 65 million dollars? Where is it technically going? I would appreciate it.
So, Steve, it's primarily gonna answer that because it's appropriate.
It's primarily the interchanges.
Which will who do mobility hub.
Which should be right up your alley. I think.
Okay.
Thank you. Steve.
Okay.
Did. When can we, Steve?
We just can't win, can we?
Annie, oh, yeah.
Anybody else in the Chambers wish to address council on item 22, please.
Seeing no one come forward, Pamela, one last time about our virtual audience.
If there's anyone in our virtual audience, please indicate, by pressing the raise hand button at the bottom of your screen. I am allowing Julie Jensen to address counsel.
Thank you again. Counsel, and sorry to be repetitive. Julie Jensen, citizen of Greeley, for about 30 years.
I again. I want to say to.
City.
The staff, the counsel for.
Trying to come up with some ways. I know we talked a lot about C. Dot leaving us.
Holding the bag, and I think.
People have to be a little bit.
Seeing the forefront of this, that if we don't address this now.
This will affect the people wanting to move into our city.
The people that you know keep coming, that keep building our tax base, that.
Bring so many great things to this. If we don't address this.
People won't want to be here. So I again, I appreciate.
That you guys are looking forward to this. I think this initiative is.
Fantastic and at the price that we can get it at, and we'll finally be able to start doing something with this.
It will be very painful to get it done, but I I cannot wait to see it come to fruition. So again I I support this so much, and.
I know there's a lot of us out in the community that do so. Thank you again for the chance to speak to you.
Thank you again for taking the time to call in Julie Pamela. Anybody else? There is no one else in our virtual office. Okay.
We'll close the public hearing this time entertainment, discussion, and action, front City Council.
Councillor Olson, please. Well, I'm gonna go on for about an hour because I could talk about this 2 min changes. Just zip back. Enjoy yourselves.
You don't have to have that 3 min time limit.
Yes, I've been working on these other changes in these 2 locations since 2015.
It's been a priority. When I was the region director, and we did come to the table back then, with 40 million dollars to match the 30 million dollars in.
As we've heard tonight, there's been some change of heart.
On that project. But this has been.
One of the.
Top priorities as my time at the Department, and I will tell you the current Region director. It's 1 of her priorities, too. It's just not a statewide priority.
It does more than safety. It does more than mobility, it does more than air quality. It connects communities. You got to remember the south side of the community is disconnected.
So a lot of our disproportionately impacted community over there. It gives people the ability to get to services, to get to amenities, to get there without crossing 35th and 47.th
If anybody here is willing to go play frogs 35, th and 47th at any time during rush hour, 50,000 cars.
To go over to the.
To target or to go over to those locations.
By all means let me know when you do it. We'll have the police and emergency management there.
Is.
It is something that this community needs in order to.
To thrive and succeed.
Transportation is the backbone of any community.
Along with policing.
And fire.
I'm not gonna cut you guys out.
What we have to remember is if we don't do these things and we don't move forward with transportation, we start to die. We start.
To wither on a.
And these 2 locations.
And Tom. I was out there one time. It took me 20 min to go from the West to get across on 35.th One day, during rush, hour.
And it was the most miserable times.
In my life, to sit there forever.
So it's really something we need to do. It's not a tax.
We got to remember. It's not a tax, and what we're really building is improving.
Greely, like everybody's set tonight. So.
I'm gonna let it go there, and I can continue for another hour. But I won't.
Thank you, Johnny, and I want to call out your thanks to.
Our friends at Region 4 who we shouldn't paint with the same brush that we're painting with those at the State level.
Thank you for bringing that up, Councillor Hall, please.
Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
Basically what what Johnny has said is good information. I know we have a large need. We've needed this for many, many years.
And haven't been able to get it done.
It is a debt with the Federal program, and I don't take lightly going into debt.
But this is at an interest rate based on Federal program that that will allow us to.
Pay for things at a much.
Smaller rate than if we go into, try and pay for it after inflation, for construction.
Yeah, makes the cost of this debt make look minuscule. So.
I think it's a reasonable rate.
And I think what we're.
Needing to look at is this, we're going to add this to what we already have moneywise. We have 20 million dollars in Federal Grant. Already we have the money that we've already set aside. This is something that we have to have in addition to what we already have so.
We can't do these projects.
At this moment, without this.
Program. So I support the program.
Thank you, Dale. Councillor Mcdonald, please.
Thank you, Mayor. From the reasons I explained earlier about the safety of this. It. It pains me that we're we have to take debt. It really it truly does. I I hate debt. I hate having personal debt.
But.
I I want to give a shout out to all of our city staff and our other council members that really tried really hard at the State level with c.to try to get negotiations done to.
Get funding from them that has not been successful. So I don't want that to go unnoticed, because it's been a tremendous amount of time and work that they had put in to to try to get that done, and I was hoping that they would be able to make something happen before this, so we we wouldn't have to put this on the ballot. But unfortunately we are, and we have to get these inner interchanges done.
And the thing that I think that.
Gets forgotten because it's such a high interest rate. Environment right now for builders. But there's so much that's in the funnel for us.
That as soon as the economy turns and those interest rates go down, we're gonna have building like no other so we need to get these interchanges done before we have that huge phase come through. So that's why I'm supporting this and and Mr. T's. I'm sorry that they're not giving up.
Their seats to you and the bus, but I think that's because you look like a young whipper.
Thank you, Marsha, Councillor to beauty. Please.
Thank you, Mayor. I what's convinced me.
About. This is just the cost.
Increases that we've witnessed when starting on this project. When Councilman Butler.
Sorry.
Councilman Olson was working in 2015. Had we done it then?
We could have saved the citizens a lot of money.
But it didn't happen, and we need to do it now.
The second thing is I'm not really a driver in this area, but I ride my bicycle and to run errands going to home depot.
It's taking your life in your hands. It is very dangerous for pedestrians and cyclists in this area, and we have got to improve that mobility in our community. And and this is a very important corridor for that.
So. But for that reason I'm gonna support this.
And advocate hard.
Thank you. Deb. Console Butler, please.
Well, I I buzzed in way too late. You guys took all the good stuff.
But yeah, I mean, as I mentioned earlier, this is again one of the most dangerous in our entire state. To Deb's point I I and Johnny's Point. I don't think anyone would cross those streets if they didn't have to. And we are forcing people to do that. That is, that hinders commerce that hinders when people say, Oh, I why don't we get the
I'm gonna say, water not not in and out. I'll pick the side there. But when we don't get those new fast food chains there's a reason that folks in those community adjacent to it aren't coming over to those.
I support this, and my comments would be to us as such. I'm going to pass on that.
But we've at this point we might be ready for a motion. Just one quick comment. Johnny did leave out the other part of the backbone, and I saw Shawn. I saw you guys droop your head.
Water and sewer right? I mean.
Without water and sewer. We couldn't we? Just. It's too late, Johnny. You blew it.
With that move to adopt the ordinance from preference and title only.
Councillor Peyton on the motion, and Councillor Hall on the second.
Won't call it. Please.
Councilmember, butler.
Councilmember, beauty.
Mayor pro tem halle.
Councilmember. Aye.
Councilmember Olson.
Councilmember Mcdonald. Aye.
Mayor Gates.
Aye, motion carries 7 0, and that concludes 7 public hearings this evening. Thank you. Mainly to our staff, who's doing all the work.
In that regard.
Item 23 is appointments to boards and commissions, specifically, construction trades, Advisory and Appeals Board, Judicial Review Board, and the Planning Commission.
Thank you, Mayor.
Appointed to the Construction Trades Advisory in Appills Board. Sean.
John.
For a 3 year term. Judicial Review Board. Nicholas.
For 3 year, term.
Planning, commission.
Larry modly.
Christian schulty.
For 3 year, terms.
Thank you. Heidi.
Item 24. Scheduling of meetings or other events. Mr.
No! At this time you are.
Item 25 is motion authorizing the city to prepare any required resolutions.
Agreements and ordinances to reflect action taken by the City Council at this meeting.
And in any previous meetings unauthorizing the Mayor City Court to sign all such resolutions.
Second, of.
I'm not sure what just happened. It has my best shot here, motion by Counselor Peyton, second by Councillor Butler.
A voice vote will suffice. All those in favor signify by saying, Aye, those opposed, nay.
Motion carries 7 0.
The time is 8, 22 Pm.
We are adjourned, and I thank you for a really good meeting this evening.
Good evening.