PDF packets:
Video replays:
Click on the agenda item in the menu to the right of the video to go to that part of the playback.
While this summary is intended to be fair, it may contain errors and is ultimately one person’s interpretation. All interested parties are encouraged to view the relevant portions of the meeting recording to come to their own conclusions.
Update Session
First Briefing – State Legislative Update
The first briefing was a state legislative update from Peggi O’Keefe with Clear Strategies. She reported that the state’s economic forecast was negative with an expected $1+ billion shortfall. The state budget is expected to be passed next week.
The following is a selection of bills discussed.
The city is in opposition to BD25-1147 Fairness & Transparency in Municipal Court, which would restrict municipal court penalties to the maximum penalty set by the state.
The city has concerns regarding SB25-001 Colorado Voting Rights Act due to the state overriding home rule of the city, including for special elections.
The city has concerns with HB25-1169 Housing Developments on Faith and Educational Land, which has passed the house but may be amended in the senate.
The city supports BD25-1272 Construction Defects & Middle Market Housing, which Council Member Bigelow testified in favor.
O’Keefe reported that the business community is opposed to HB25-1286 Protecting Workers from Extreme Temperatures. She did not share any perspectives from workers.
The council’s stated concern is that the law would prohibit emergency workers from responding to emergencies in inclement weather and wants an amendment on that point.
Second Briefing – City Process for Permanent Road Closures
Under current city code, a permanent road closure requires a public hearing and an ordinance passed by council.
Permanent closures would conflict with approved land use documents (plats) and with design standards in City Code Section 18-677.
Staff described a process that would need to be followed to permanently close a road, including a one-year trial period.
Staff discussed an example from the Glen Eagles Estates neighborhood (128th & Riverdale) that is experiencing high traffic to and from Riverdale High School, which a road closure could potentially address.
At this point, staff’s recommendation is that the 128th & Riverdale intersection be improved by Adams County to address traffic issues given the challenges of closing a road.
Council Comments
Council Member Sandgren requested being able to attend conferences to wrap up work as she is in her last term. Council Member Ayala wanted to let staff know about April events: autism awareness month, Arab-American heritage month, and Earth Day.
Council Member Martinez requests membership funding for the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials.
Council Meeting
All council members were present for this meeting (one Ward 1 seat is still vacant pending the results of the special election).
Resolutions
Council Member Martinez added an item to the agenda to declare March 31, 2025 as Transgender Day of Visibility in Thornton.
The council approved that resolution and a resolution declaring April 2025 as Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Month in Thornton.
During the council comments on the Transgender Day of Visibility resolution, Council Member Sandgren said that she believes that “fairness should be for everyone but not at the expense of erasing others.”
Council Member Acunto was the sole vote against that resolution. The child abuse awareness resolution passed unanimously.
Audience Participation
Seven people signed up for in-person participation and two signed up online.
The first speaker discussed an application to build a mobile phone tower, expressing concerns that his community was not given adequate notice of the application.
The second speaker showed an election flier for Ward 1 candidate Eric Garcia. She said that the flier’s claim that Garcia had been endorsed by Thornton firefighters was a lie.
She claimed it was hilarious that Council Member Sandgren would say that Garcia “walks the walk” because he walked away from Ward 1 residents asking him what he would do for his ward. The speaker described Garcia as Mayor Kulmann’s “puppet” in his previous term on the council.
The third speaker also raised concerns about PAC mailers for the campaign, which misleadingly implied a firefighter endorsement. He asked council to condemn this activity and amend election code to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
The fourth speaker reiterated that the Thornton firefighters union has not endorse Garcia, contrary to the claims in the campaign mailers.
The fifth speaker, a recurring gadfly, continued his critique of the city’s land acknowledgment.
The sixth speaker was the return of resident who speaks satirically as a right-wing extremist in order to criticize conservatives on the council. In the past, he was arrested under dubious circumstances with the charges later dropped.
The seventh speaker is a representative from the CASA advocate organization who thanked council for voicing support in the child abuse resolution and encouraged residents to volunteer.
The eighth speaker voiced concerns about the cell tower that was mentioned by the first speaker, suggesting it would hurt home values and is not appropriate for a residential area given that other towers are in industrial/commercial areas.
The ninth speaker was Ward 1 candidate Cherish Salazar. She shared concerns from Ward 1, including about a sewage backup, recommending the Active Adult Center, and sharing condolences for a departed member of the community.
Council Comment and Communications
Mayor Pro Tem Bigelow discussed a financial literacy event at a local school, attending a bill signing for an accessibility law, testifying for the new building defects bill, and recognizing Ramadan and Purim celebrations.
Council Member Russell spoke on his experience traveling to Washington, D.C. for the National League of Cities. He met with Representative Gabe Evans.
Council Member Unrein also spoke on the National League of Cities events in D.C. The main topic of concern he saw from participants around the nation was housing affordability and availability. He also met with Rep. Evans.
Council Member Sandgren described advocating for many areas in the D.C. trip.
Sandgren addressed the campaign issue discussed in audience participation. She offered the “correction” that the mailer did not come from the candidate, although the audience participants seemed to be clear that the mailers were for the candidate, not from the candidate.
At 48:27, Sandgren uses the transgender resolution to talk about safety in women’s spaces.
Sandgren explained that her factoids (e.g., national blue-berry pancake day) are her way of protesting the land acknowledgment. She alleges that the land acknowledgment contains falsehoods.
An audience member applauds Sandgren’s remarks and is not ruled out of order by the mayor.
Council Member Ayala described speaking with a Cub Scout troop at Cherry Elementary. She described taking a waste water course during the D.C. trip.
Ayala described how the campaign mailers were issued by an independent expenditure committee (IEC). She encouraged voters to identify the group sponsoring the mailers.
She described her work supporting municipal election funding reform in Colorado (reducing the individual contribution limit to $400 from unlimited and increase the frequency of campaign funding disclosure reporting dates).
Ayala encouraged residents to consider what actions are within the scope of the city government to address.
Council Member Martinez amplified the concern about the mobile home sewage backup and requested staff to get more information.
Martinez described advocating for the continued existence of tax-free municipal bonds to Representative Evans during the D.C. trip.
Kulmann closes her comments by thanking those who “respectfully” engaged with council.
Thornton Shopping Center Quarterly Progress Update
Demolition is completed at the site. Environmental testing and clean-up is now underway.
Planning for redevelopment is underway with an estimated issue of a request for proposals set for mid-2025.
Public Hearing
The hearing was on a conceptual site plan for an apartment conversion at 2513 E. 104th Ave. (Village at Sunny Acres Ambassador Apartments).
The plan is to subdivide and convert an existing housing site from assisted living to multi-family units.
This will require 97 new parking spaces.
A public meeting was held August 19, 2024. Approximately 560 property owners were notified of the meeting (hybrid online and in-person), and no residents attended the meeting.
Council voted to approve the conceptual site plan.
Council/TASCHO Meeting
TASCHO gave its annual report.
Council/Thornton Development Authority Meeting
TDA gave its annual report.
Thornton Observer Reflection, Commentary, and Questions
Will the city be as invested in defending home rule against federal government overreach at the hands of the current administration as they are alleged overreach by the state of Colorado?
For at least two bills, the council and its lobbyist raised concerns about adverse effects on law enforcement and emergency responders as reason to oppose bills or support amendments without acknowledging the needs and concerns of residents that the bills were originally proposed to address.
The council emphasized the city’s right to home rule in the update meeting.
In a previous meeting, Council Member Sandgren said that it is the county, not the city, that should be responsible for addressing homelessness. It would seem that some on the council want home rule power while also shirking some of the responsibility that comes with that power.
In the road closure presentation, Council Member Martinez noted how 30-40 people showing up at a ward meeting made an impact. If there is an issue affecting Thornton residents, showing up and communicating with council can support change for the better.
The road closure discussion also highlights how the city pursues growth without always being able to address the unintended negative effects of that growth.
Thornton Civic Observatory 