Westminster City Council has given the go-ahead to produce and distribute a polling survey on a trimmed-down Fire Department improvements spending package. This time, funding for street improvements has been added to the survey.
The survey, which is targeted at approximately 1,500 Westminster households, should begin late this week. The survey is a combination educational piece and a survey for opinions on either using property taxes or sales and use tax increases – along with bonding – to fund the package.
This is a follow-up effort to last year’s unsuccessful Fire Department improvements package ballot question.
It’s important to point out that staff has been able to trim down the Fire Department portion of the package to reduce the amount of tax revenues needed to support either ballot proposition. The council discussed the importance of educating the public this time so they have a fuller understanding of the consequences of supporting the tax increase.
Also, it sounds like there will be a citizens’ group formed – using private funds – to campaign in favor of the ballot issues. You will recall that tax dollars cannot be used for either a pro or a con campaign, but can be used strictly for an educational campaign that is careful about citing both pros and cons.
More will come out about the specific tax amounts. The deadline to place questions on the ballot is in mid-August.
No Kings protest reaches across the nation
The “No Kings Day of Defiance” came off Saturday, June 14, with little injury or violence. Young people, old people, families, Democrats, Republicans and independent voters, white people and people of color all saw the need to express their opposition to the President of the United States about the way he is running the country. He has the whole Republican wing of the U.S. Congress feeling threatened if they do not vote his way.
He isn’t afraid to use force, as we have seen in Los Angeles. That includes calling up the National Guard, which is something he may not have the authority to do. He is playing hardball to get his “Big Beautiful Bill” to accomplish tax cuts for the super wealthy while putting the cost on the back of the low-income people, who look to lose their Medicaid and SNAP benefits. He has become King indeed!
Trump is demonstrating more and more of his autocratic style in making decisions and then executing them. He is ignoring Congress to the extent he can, i.e., Doge actions to get his objectives and then fighting the court system on every action he takes. When should we address him as “Your Honor, the King?”
73rd Avenue tavern details addressed
It has been a long process for the City of Westminster to address the longstanding desire to have a restaurant in the former Rodeo Market on 73rd Avenue.
First there was the Olde Westminster Pub and Tavern, which was awarded a contract right before COVID-19 came along and dashed their hopes. Most recently, the city sent out a request for proposals for a restaurant, with Barquentine Brewing Company being awarded a contract to operate a food and beer (Belgian beers, primarily) establishment.
City Staff has worked with WCG Construction as the general contractor, performing pre-construction services and preparing cost estimates for the building. WCG Construction developed an estimate of $4,357,433 for the core and shell building improvements, which includes a 1% added for final design contingencies.
An estimated $ 391,058 is needed for tenant improvements, for which Barquentine will reimburse the city. Westminster’s net cost will be approximately $3,966,375, which would include needed improvements to the adjacent Westminster Grange and the Fred Valente Humanitarian Park, estimted ot be about $136,000.
The council informally discussed, at their June 16 study session, the best choice on whether to move forward or not. Based on comments from each councilor, it appears the tavern project will move forward and the city will bear the expense as outlined.
I can appreciate the council’s dilemma with the tavern project, given the $3.9 million investment of taxpayers’ dollars. Plus, there is still the question of sufficient parking. The site plan calls for five off-street parking spaces. It sounds like the city would take a phased approach to the parking, with striping and signs saying where to park.
When all is said and done, I question if this is a sound use of taxpayers’ money. I know the city is stuck with the Rodeo Market building, but $4 million would go a long way towards beefing up the city’s street maintenance program.
Thornton looking at possible charter amendments
The Thornton City Council is considering City Charter amendments for the November election to update and clarify three different Charter sections.
The first one would address term limits for council members. It is unclear if a “partial term” counts as a “term of office” for purposes of the constitutional limit of two terms. The Colorado Constitution lets voters approve local term limits or eliminate them. The council could change the language regarding a partial term, like an appointment or special election, to fill a vacancy by stating that it does or does not count as a term.
The second potential amendment addresses filling a mayoral vacancy. Current charter language states that if the office of mayor becomes vacant, the Mayor Pro Tem becomes mayor until the next regular election. The possible change could have the Mayor Pro Tem serving as acting mayor if one year or less of a term remains. If more than a year remains, the vacancy would be filled by a special election.
The third potential amendment has to do with signatures on petitions for initiatives or referenda. Currently, the charter requires petitions signed by 10% of the registered electors as of the date of the last regular city election. All signatures must be obtained within 21 days before filing the petition.
As I stated last week, updating the City Charter is a prudent regular practice to carry out. If the council deems these three as the highest priority, then I would say put them on the ballot and the voters decide.
Here’s a good one
It seems that the City of Montrose and the First United Methodist Church have been at odds for some time over the issue of allowing 50 homeless people ot camp on the church’s parking lot overnight. The city had enacted a tough “no camping” policy on public property and has vigorously enforced it. Thus, there are few places for the homeless to stay overnight. City officials and church leaders met with the municipal judge to try and work something out, but to no avail.
Judge Erin Maxwell sided with the church, rejecting the city’s request to clear the grounds. While church leaders cheered the decision, city officials were far from happy.
Three weeks later, the City Council put the judge on administrative leave and negotiated a severance package with her.
Boom! The council terminated her contract. I would say this is a classic example like we are seeing with President Trump and his heavy-handed directions.
Sorry Judge. “You’ve got to go along to get along.”
Bill Christopher is a former Westminster city manager and RTD board member. His opinions are not necessarily those of Colorado Community Media. You can contact him at bcjayhawk68@gmail.com.